India's top order batsmen failed to live up to expectations as the visitors were struggling on 143 for six at tea on Day 1 of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday.

Cheteshwar Pujara battled hard for 46 not out from 141 balls, while Ravichandran Ashwin was unbeaten on five at the tea interval.

Having been reduced to 56 for four at the lunch break, India continued to throw their wickets away in the post-lunch session.

Rohit Sharma, brought back into the Test team, threw his wicket away with a reckless shot. He miscued an attempted cross batted slog off Nathan Lyon and was caught at deep square leg for 37, while Rishabh Pant was caught behind off the spinner for 25.

Josh Hazlewood picked up two for 28, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins took one wicket each.

Earlier, having elected to bat, India suffered an early jolt when opener KL Rahul was caught in the slips off Josh Hazlewood before Murali Vijay was caught behind off Mitchell Starc for 11.

Cummins then delivered India a big blow in the form of captain Virat Kohli, who was brilliantly caught by Usman Khawaja at gully for 3.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane played a poor shot to give his wicket away, as he was caught in the slips off Hazlewood for 13.

Earlier, India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first in the series-opening Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval.