- Scorecard

Once again the Indian spinners hogged the limelight on a pitch offering a lot of assistance to the spinners.

Ashwin lead the bowling with splendid figures of four for 40 in 30 overs, while Jadeja claimed two for 34 and Ishant claimed two for 35 to rock Australia early with the new ball.

India must be disappointed as they were unable to bowl out Australia but they still have the upperhand and will look to clean out the Aussies on Day 2.

Aus 231-8 (98)

Siddle 47 (125b, 4x4) Pattinson 11 (57b, 1x4)

Siddle and Pattinson offering some resistance and making the Indians toil hard.

Ishant tries a slow full toss which Siddle keeps out before he is beaten by one that swung right across him more like a leg cutter. Dhoni had already started to move down the leg side and was unable to react in time and take the edge.

Australia are 215-8 in 93 overs before India take the second new ball.

The lower order has hung on bravely for the visitors. Their first six wickets fell by the 47th over but in the next 47 overs they have lost only two more wickets.

Kumar bowls the first over with the second new ball but Pattinson plays it out carefully. Ishant offers the left-hander some width in his next over and he throws hit bat at that to stroke it through the off-side for a boundary.

But the two batsmen survive till stumps.

STUMPS - DAY 1

Aus 231-8 (98)

Australia finish the day on a slightly positive note having lost just one wicket in the post tea session.

Peter Siddle hung on  bravely to score 47 not out from 125 balls, hitting four boundaries. Pattinson made 11 from 57 balls as the duo put on 42 runs from 16.4 overs to keep the Indian bowlers at bay.

Siddle has been at the crease for 158 minutes, while Pattinson has survived for 71 minutes now.

Steven Smith was the only wicket to fall in that session, caught at short leg for 46.

Aus 193-8 (90)

So India have completed 90 overs for the day, but we still have 35-40 minutes remaining in the day.

Australia have struggled to 203 for eight on a pitch offering a lot of assistance to the spinners.

Siddle has shown great character to score 29 from 102 balls, while Pattinson is on seven. The duo have shown that if the batsmen apply themselves and show some patience then taking wickets is not easy on this track.

Aus 193-8 (87)

Siddle 27 (96b, 1x4) Pattinson 6 (20b)

James Pattinson survives a huge shout for LBW against Ashwin in the 84th over. That looked very close and maybe Pattinson was lucky to survive that huge shout. Two balls later he flicks it on the leg side for a couple to get off the mark.

It remains to be seen how much more Australia can get with just two wickets in hand.

India's over rate has been quite superb today. 45 minutes to go for stumps but India have already bowled a total of 87 runs. We have time for another 10 overs possibly.

Aus 189-8 (81.2)

Steven Smith falls short of a well deserved half-century. He tried to defend Ashwin off the front foot but gets an inside edge which is well held by debutant Ajinkya Rahane at short leg.

Smith walks back disappointed after a good innings of 46 from 145 balls, as he put on 53 runs from 27.2 overs for the eighth wicket.

Smith became Ashwin's fourth victim of the innings.

Aus 185-7 (80)

Smith 46 (143b, 3x4, 2x6), Siddle 16 (76b)

Smith breaks the shackles as he chips down the track to Ojha and lofts him back over his head for the second six of his innings.

Siddle and Smith seem to have got a measure of the wicket and are defending quite resolutely, without any real problems. Ashwin comes back as he replaces Jadeja, who figures so far read two for 26 in 19 overs.

Smith slog sweeps over Ashwin over midwicket for a boundary to take his score to 46 and inch closer to his second successive half-century in the series.

India are 185 for seven in 80 overs and the second new ball is available now though India are not taking it straightaway.

Aus 172-7 (76)

Smith hits the first boundary of the session as he despatches a half volley from Ojha through the covers to take his score to 31.

Peter Siddle is hanging on bravely. He has been at the wicket for more than an hour, scoring 16 from 68 balls, while Smith has also shown good patience to score 33 from 127 balls. Their partnership is now 36 from 22 balls.

Aus 157-7 (72)

Jadeja starts with two maiden overs on the trot after the tea break with Sharma bowling from the other end. It is slow going for Australia after the tea break with just four runs coming from the first five overs of the session.

Jadeja remains miserly as ever conceding just 19 runs in 16 overs, while taking two wickets.

No way out for Australia and their only hope is to survive and keep whatever runs they can collect.

Aus 153-7 (67)

Five wickets for 59 runs in the post lunch session for Australia. Bad pitch or bad batting?

Except for Wade, who was unlucky to be given caught at silly point for two, all the other Aussie batsmen self-destructed or were responsible for their own downfall.

Cowan was the first wicket to fall in the second session when he tried to sweep Ashwin but missed and was bowled after a patient innings of 38.

Watson tried to counter Jadeja by stepping down the wicket but was done in the flight to be stumped for 17 followed by Wade's wicket for two.

Glenn Maxwell was all at sea against the Indian spinners and tried to hit himself out of trouble but ended up spooning a simple catch to mid-on for 10, while Mitchell Johnson was bowled by Ashwin for three as he offered no shot.

Indian spinners continued their domination to leave Australia struggling at 153 for seven at the tea break on the first day.

They lost five wickets in 39 overs for the addition of 59 runs in the post lunch session as the Indian spinners took control on a wicket offering a lot of assistance.

Aus 146-7 (60)

Smith breaks the shackles as he glances Jadeja fine on the leg side for a four, the first after a long wait of nearly 15 overs.

Australia have scored just 12 runs from the last 10 overs, losing the wicket of Johnson.

Smith had started with an attacking frame of mind, chargint the spinners hitting a few big hits early on but he seems to be play with a defensive mindset now. He is on 21 from 84 balls, with one four and a six, while Siddle is on two from 15 balls.

Aus 136-7 (54)

New batsman Mitchell Johnson is lucky to survive a close shout for leg before wicket off the first ball he faces, from Jadeja, as the Australians fight for survival on this day one track offering a lot of help to the spinners.

Just two singles from the last four overs as India keep piling the pressure. Jadeja has another appeal for LBW turned down against Johnson but the ball looked to be heading down the leg side.

And Johnson doesn't last for long. He fails to pick the carrom ball from Ashwin which turns the other way and offers no shot only to see his off-stump pegged back. Johnson (3) waited at the wicket for a bit not sure as to how he was dismissed.

Australia slip further and are now reeling at 136-7 after 54 overs.

Ashwin now has three for 30 in 18 overs, while Jadeja has two for nine in eight overs.

This was also Ashwin's 25th wicket of the ongoing series.

Aus 129-6 (46.2)

Glenn Maxwell came out with a positive intent, looking to counter attack. He got off the mark with a huge six down the ground before cutting a short ball behind point.

Maxwell then threw his wicket away with another careless shot. He jumped down the wicket to Jadeja and tried to loft him over the leg side but ended up lofting a simple catch to Ishant at mid-on.

Aus 117-5 (40.4)

Australia continue to slip. Matthew Wade jumps down the track to Ashwin and looks to defend but is taken at short leg for be dismissed for two.

India in complete control as Australia are reduced to 117 for five, having two quick wickets in the space of 12 deliveries.

Aus 115-4 (39) vs India

Australia in big trouble now. Shane Watson has been stumped off Ravindra Jadeja for 17. He stepped down the wicket but was beaten in the flight and it also turned a lot to leave Dhoni with an easy stumping.

Once again Jadeja has claimed the wicket of the Australian captain. He got Clarke out five times and now Watson's wicket today.

Aus 106-3 (33) vs Ind

Ashwin bowled the first over after the lunch break. The second ball was short and wide as Cowan rocked back and hit it through the covers for a boundary.

In the next over, Cowan chipped down the track and tried to hit it through the leg side where Pujara took a catch at short midwicket but hold on it was on the bounce as the third umpire confirmed after it was referred upstairs.

Cowan then got a freebie as Ashwin bowled another wide delivery down the leg side which he helped along fine past Dhoni for a four. But in the same over the left-hander threw his wicket away with a reckless shot to throw away a good start. Cowan tried to play the sweep but missed the ball as it spun from outside the leg stump and went on to hit the stumps.

Cowan is dismissed for 38, having hit seven fours in his 99-ball knock.

LUNCH - Day 1

Aus 94-2 (28) vs Ind

Cowan 27 (83b, 5x4), Watson 16 (22b, 3x4)

And now Ojha gets one to turn and beat the batsman. Dhoni has made two appeals here, for caught behind and stumping against Watson. The umpires are initially not interested before Dhoni forces them to call the third umpire and it turned out to be a close replay with Watson's boot just inside the crease.

Ashwin keeping things tight but he slips down the leg side which Cowan helps round the corner for a boundary through the vacant fine leg region.

Ojha bowls a poor over before lunch, bowling too short as Watson punches him through covers and then pulls through midwicket for a couple of boundaries in that over.

Aus 80-2 (25) vs Ind

Cowan 22 (78b, 4x4), Watson 7 (9b, 1x4)

Ishant in the middle of a good spell. New batsman Shane Watson is beaten outisde the off-stump as he plays inside the line and ball goes cloe to the edge. But the next ball is down the leg side and Watson flicks it behind square on the leg side for a four.

Ashwin is now getting some purchase from the track. Some footmarks have developed outside the off-stump as Cowan is beaten twice with the ball gripping and turning past the face of the bat.

Aus 71-2 (21) vs Ind

Hughes continues his positive start as he hits Ishant through the covers for his 10th boundary to take his score to 45. Two balls later Ishant hits his helmet with a quick short delivery that rises awkwardly.

And that seemed to have worked. Hughes plays tenatively to a full delivery and ends up dragging one back on to his stumps to be bowled for 45, hitting 10 fours in 59 balls.

Hughes put on 67 runs for the second wicket with Cowan to steady Australia after an early wicket.

Aus 67-1 (20) vs Ind

Hughes 41 (53b, 9x4), Cowan 20 (63b, 4x4)

Cowan drives Kumar through the covers to bring up Australia's 50 in the 16th over. And Hughes does the same in his next over, hitting another four to take his score to 37.

The partnership between Hughes and cowan is more than 50 now and they have been at the wicket for 16 overs so far.

Meanwhile, Pragyan Ojha replaces Ashwin, who bowled a first spell of five overs. Ojha has gone for two boundaries in his first over. The first ball is way down the leg side which Dhoni fails to stop and give away four byes.

Hughes then tries to slog sweep But fails to get it away but three balls later he steers it behind point for a boundary.

Aus 47-1 (14) vs Ind

Kumar comes back in place of Ishant, who bowled a good first spell of one for 12 in six overs. Cowan flicks one fine on the leg side for a boundary, his third of the innings.

Australia have made progress since losing the early wicket of Warner.

The first drinks break on day one and Australia have reached 39 for one in 15 overs after the first hour of the Test match.

Aus 39-1 (10) vs Ind

Hughes is on 29 from 23 balls (7 fours) and Cowan on nine from 33 balls.

R Ashwin comes into the attack early, in the 9th over replacing Kumar, who was hit for three fours in his previous over.

Hughes plays tentatively to the first ball from Ashwin and is hit on the pads but the LBW appeal is turned. But the left-hander plays a confident flick off the fourth ball for a boundary and two balls later he steps down the track and again hits it through the same region for another four. He has raced to 29 (23 balls) with the help of seven fours.

Ishant gets Cowan to edge one but it flies quickly past Murali Vijay at a wide third slip for a boundary.

Australia are 39 for one after 10 overs.

Aus 27-1 (7) vs Ind

Ishant has started off well with the new ball, bowling in the right areas and causing some trouble to the batsmen.

He gets one to bounce a bit extra off the cracks and Cowan is beaten all ends up.

VVS Laxman on commentary says that this already looks like a third day wicket and batting will become difficult. As you can see on TV there are a lot of cracks and ball doing things already with regards to the bounce.

Bhuvneshwar gets it to swing away as Hughes plays a loose shot outside the off-stump and is beaten and a few balls later Cowan is lucky not to edge one as Kumar swings one right across him. That looked as if it hit the crack, a little puff of dust as it hits the pitch.

Hughes is feeling confident after that half-century in the previous match. He takes full toll of a half-volley from Ishant and despatches it through the off-side. He then slams three boundaries from the next over from Kumar to race to 21 from 17 balls with the help of five fours.

Aus 4-1 (2) vs Ind

Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls the first over and facing him is Ed Cowan. The fourth ball moves away slightly as Cowan gets a thick edge which beats the fielder at third slip for a boundary. Cowan is unsure as he makes a late decision to let the next ball go but it hits the outside half of his bat and goes on the bounce to Dhoni.

Ishant Sharma struck in the next over getting the wicket of David Warner for a duck. The left-hander threw his bat at a wide delivery but ended up edging it to Virat Kohli at second slip.

Phil Hughes gets off the mark in some style as he cracks a wide delivery through the covers. That is a confident start by the left-hander.

Winning the toss may not always be a good thing at Delhi with only five wins out of 31 for sides batting first, says Rajneesh Gupta.

"Only 5 times-out of 31 previous Tests at Delhi- sides batting first have gone on to win the game (since 2000- 1 out of 6)," he writes on Twitter.

Cricket Australia on Twitter:

"Shane Watson becomes the first Queensland born captain since Bill Brown in the first Test v NZ in 1946."

Check out the two teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.

Australia: Shane Watson (captain), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.

Australia captain Shane Watson has won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth and final Test against India, in Delhi on Friday.

The visitors made as many as five changes to their team. Watson came in to the team in place of Michael Clarke, while Matthew Wade replaced Brad Haddin as the wicketkeeper.

Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson took the places of Xavier Doherty, Mitchell Starc and Moises Henriques.

India made just one change to their team with Ajinkya Rahane making his debut after he replaced Shikhar Dhawan.

Rajneesh Gupta on Twitter.

"Shane Watson will become Australia's 44th Test captain, third to make his captaincy debut v India after Ray Lindwall & Bill Lawry."

Australia captain Michael Clarke has been ruled of the fourth and final Test against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, on Friday.

Clarke's withdrawal means that Shane Watson will lead Australia in this match. Interestingly, Watson was banned from the third Test in Mohali because of disciplinary problems after which he went back to Australia for the birth of his first child.

For India, Ajinkya Rahane will finally make his Test debut after spending 15 months travelling with the team. He will replace Shikhar Dhawan, who scored a century on debut in the previous match, but was unable to play at his home ground after injuring his finger.