Cheteshwar Pujara hit his maiden Test in century to keep India afloat on Day 1 of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday.

Pujara waged a lone battle as he scored a brilliant 123 from 246 balls to rally India to 250 for nine in 87.5 overs before he was run out off the last ball of the opening day.

The wickets were evenly shared by the four frontline Australian bowlers with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon taking two wickets each.

Pujara put on 62 runs for the seventh wicket with Ravichandran Ashwin (25) which enabled India get past the 200-run mark.

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.

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.

Pujara lofts Starc straight down the ground but doesn't make proper connection and picks up just two runs to mid-on. He uppishly clips the next ball for a four between fine leg and square leg.

Pujara has changed gears quite efficiently. This time he slashes a short wide delivery from Starc over the point region for a six, his second of the innings.

He has hit 28 from the last 13 balls he has faced to take his score to 117 from 242 balls.

India are in with a chance of posting around the 300-run mark if the last two batsmen hang in and give Pujara some support.

However, disaster strikes for India right at the end as Pujara is run out as he attempts a quick single to keep strike.

Pujara turns Hazlewood on the leg side and sets for a quick run off the fifth ball but Cummins catches him short with a direct hit from midwicket.

Pujara walks back after a splendid innings of 123 from 246 balls, having hit seven fours and two sixes.

At stumps on Day 1, India finish on 250 for nine in 87.5 overs after they had elected to bat first.

Pujara looking to go for his shots and look to complete his century quickly, with just two wickets in hand for India.

He goes hard at a short wide delivery from Hazlewood but is beaten and it nearly takes the edge.

The pacer tries a short ball which Pujara pulls for a six over fine leg, he didn't look totally in control of the short.

But he gets the next ball right off the middle, pulling powerfully through square leg for a four to move to 99.

In the next over, Shami steers Starc uppishly between gully and slips for a single to bring Pujara on strike.

He completes his century in the next over with two runs through midwicket for two runs, from 231 balls.

This is Pujara's maiden century in Australia and 16th overall and it could not have come at a better time for India.

Pujara slaps the next ball square on the off-side for two runs and then miscues the pull on the leg side for one.

Pujara feeling confident to take on the short balls now as he pulls Hazlewood to fine leg for one.

Shami tries the same shot next ball but misses and is hit on the right shoulder. He doesn't need to do play such crazy shots and should just look to bat for stumps, which is another 10 minutes away.

Part-timer Head comes into the attack and he sends down a maiden over. And no surprise that Australia take the second new ball as India reach 206 for seven in 80 overs, with Pujara unbeaten on 85 and Ishant on four.

Mitchell Starc comes back into the attack and he strikes immediately with the second new ball.

He gets Ishant dismissed leg before wicket with the incoming delivery as he has no idea about the movement and decides to offers no shot. Ishant takes the review and rightly so as the ball hit high on his pads and is going on to miss the stumps.

The next ball is again full and comes in sharply to strike Ishant on the pads but this time the LBW appeal is turned down.

Hazlewood from the other end. Pujara blocks the first ball before he offers no shot to the next two and then clips the fourth through midwicket for two runs and takes one off the fifth ball.

In the next over, Starc gets Pujara to edge one before he takes a single off the next ball.

Starc gets the wicket of Ishant, who is beaten all ends up by an incoming delivery and bowled for four.

Starc gifts new batsman Mohammed Shami a full toss which he drives through the covers to get off the mark with a four.

Lyon has a huge appeal for leg before turned down as Pujara takes a huge stride forward and looks to defend but is hit on the pads.

Australia take the review against Ishant Sharma for a catch down the leg side but there is no edge.

Pujara drives Cummins down the ground past mid-on for two runs before he defends the rest of the over to take his score to 75, having played exactly 200 balls so far, which is nearly 33 overs out of 76 overs sent down so far on Day 1.

Ishant goes after Lyon as he sweeps the spinner uppishly through square leg for a four.

Pujara turns down the single off the first ball as he drives a full wide delivery from Cummins to sweeper cover, to keep Ishant away from the fast bowler. He drives the fifth ball past the cover fielder for three runs, giving Ishant the strike for only the last ball which he does by ducking under a bouncer.

Pujara gives Lyon the charge as the inside edge which goes fine for two runs and he clips the next ball to deep square leg for another couple as India go past the 200-run mark, in the 79th over.

Lyon drops short again and wide as Pujara cuts it past point for two runs and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Lyon fires it down the leg side as Ashwin gets a thick inside edge for three runs past the wicketkeeper, fine on the leg side.

Australia keep rotating the pacers from one end, while Lyon keeps operating from the other.

Cummins comes back in place of Hazlewood. He bowls a tidy over giving away just a single as Ashwin turns the fifth ball on the leg side.

Lyon follows it up with a maiden over, to continue his fine showing with the ball on the opening day.

Cummins drops slightly short as Pujara taps it past point for one before Ashwin cuts it through the same region for a four, his first boundary after a long wait of 75 balls.

But Cummins gets revenge the very next ball, with a full delivery which moves away enough to take the edge which is taken by the second slip fielder.

Ashwin walks back after a handy innings of 25, putting on 62 runs for the seventh wicket with Pujara.

Pujara taps Cummins first ball straight for one and Ashwin turns the next on the leg side for another run.

Pujara clips the last ball through midwicket to pick up two more runs.

Lyon gets a break as pacer Hazlewood comes in from the other end. Ashwin gets a leading edge off the first ball as he tries to turn it on the leg side but it falls safely before he keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

Change of ends for off-spinner Lyon as he takes over from Cummins. Ashwin picks one from the first ball before Pujara glances the third ball fine for two runs.

Pujara drives the fourth ball straight down the ground past mid-on for three runs to raise the 50-run stand for the seventh wicket with Ashwin from 117 balls.

Pujara clips Hazlewood's last ball to deep square leg for two runs as India reach 180 for six in 70 overs.

Pujara has shown a lot of patience and determination to score 71 from 186 balls, while Ashwin has made 17.

Starc drops short as Ashwin pulls it through square leg for one and Pujara clips the fifth ball for another single.

In the next over, Lyon has a huge appeal for LBW turned down against Pujara. Australia decide against the review as captain Paine confirms with Lyon as to whether Pujara was attempting to play with the bat.

Ashwin top edges the pull shot off Starc which falls safely on the leg side in the square leg region. Pujara then plays a rare loose shot, chasing a wide one, as he gets the edge which goes over the fielder at gully for a boundary.

While Lyon continues to bowl, Cummins comes in for Starc at the other end. Ashwin drives the second ball straight for a couple of runs and then takes one.

Mitchell Starc to start off with the ball in the post-tea session. He begins with a maiden over to Pujara, who watchfully defends, as he looks to get his eye in.

Nathan Lyon from the other end. Ashwin gets an inside edge off the second ball as Pujara comes across for a quick single and the last-gasp dive saves him from the run out.

Ashwin, on 6, then gets a lifeline as Finch at leg slip puts down a tough chance as the right-hander flicks it fine.

In the next over, Pujara clips Starc through the leg side for two runs and then takes one to fine leg to bring up his fifty from 153 balls.

The failure of the Indian top order in contrast Pujara's hardworking fifty goes on to prove that Test cricket is not as easy to adopt to as compared to limited overs cricket.

Pujara was willing to be patient and grind for his runs, while some of his other team mates were looking to hit their way out of trouble against some good testing bowling from Australians early on.

Pujara cuts a short ball from Lyon through point for two runs and clips the fifth ball through square leg for the same result as India cross the 150-run mark, in the 60th over.

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.

Hazlewood bowls a good over to Pujara, who can only defend and he does it with utmost caution.

Ashwin nudges Lyon past the slip fielder for one and Pujara chops down the track and flicks the off-spinner through midwicket for another single.

A single each to Pujara and Ashwin off Hazlewood before the former slashes a wide short delivery from the pacer over the slips for a four to take his score into the 40s, the only Indian batsman to achieve it in this innings.

With five minutes left for tea, India would be keen not to lose any more wickets in the session.

Part-time spinner Travis Head comes into the attack to bowl the final over of the session.

The off-spinner starts from round the wicket as Ashwin blocks the first ball before taking a single before Pujara also picks up one.

In the next over, Pujara drives Lyon through the covers for three runs as India end the post-lunch session on 143 for six in 56 overs.

Pant has settled down a bit and is now being watchful with his shot selection. He defends the first three balls from Cummins before drilling a half volley through the coves for a four.

Cummins then dishes out a quick bouncer as Pant sways out of the way.

Three singles off Lyon's next over as Pujara looks well settled now while Pant is also getting better with his shot selection.

A change in the bowling as Hazlewood replaces Cummins. He gets an edge off Pujara but the ball falls short of a diving third slip fielder.

Another set batsman fails to carry on as Pant is caught behind for 25. Lyon got some turn as Pant came half forward to defend but only got the edge as wicketkeeper Paine completed an easy catch as India slip to 127 for six.

Ravichandran Ashwin gets off the mark with a single and Pujara picks one off the next ball.

Lyon drops slightly short as Pujara steers it behind point for two runs and then comes forward to defend and uses his pads to defend as Australia appeal for LBW which is turned down.

Pujara clips the next ball uppishly past the short leg fielder before he flicks the last ball to the deep square leg fielder for one.

A change in the bowling as Cummins replaces Starc as Pujara guides the first ball past point for one.

This time Pant looks to defend, against Starc, as he blocks the first four deliveries before he attempts a wild swing off the last ball but is beaten.

Pujara gives Lyon the charge before flicking him through midwicket for two runs and repeats the shot three balls later for the same result to take his score into the 30s.

Cummins tempts Pant with the short ball but the youngster decides against taking it on as he prefers to duck under it. He defends the next few balls before he taking one off the fifth ball.

Lyon beats Pant with one that goes straight on but the LBW appeal is turned down because the left-hander had got a big inside edge.

Pant then flicks the next ball, taking it off the stumps past the fielder at midwicket for two runs and repeat the shot three balls later for one.

Rishabh Pant off the mark as he flicks Starc through midwicket for two runs. He tries another pull to a short ball down the leg side but fails to make connection.

Starc then beats him with a full wide delivery as Pant plays away from his body and misses.

A few words for the young Pant from Starc, who beats him again off the very next delivery.

Pujara will need to show more intent now, with Pant and the lower order to follow. He rocks back and punches a short ball from Lyon through the covers for a four, to take his score into the 20s.

After being beaten a few times by Starc in his previous over, Pant decides to take the attack to the fast bowler.

He goes for the lofted down shot down the ground, which he doesn't connect well but manages to clear mid-on for two runs.

Pant then flicks the next ball uppishly and times it well for a six over the square leg region, to bring up India's 100, in the 41st over.

Starc goes wide as Pant goes hard at it, only to get the edge which flies past the slips for a four. The next ball again flies off the edge, this time Pant gets the leading edge which goes past the cover fielder for two runs.

The last ball is short and wide as Pant throws his bat but fails to make connection.

Mitchell Starc is called back into the attack. The first ball is short and wide as Pujara upper cuts it over the slip cordon for a four, only his second in 75 balls.

After patiently defending for the last one hour, Pujara looks keen to get on with things now.

The last ball is down the leg side as Pujara nudges it to fine leg for a single.

Time for spin as offie Nathan Lyon comes back into the attack, for his second spell.

Lyon getting some turn as Pujara gets an inside edge which falls just short of Handscomb at short leg before he looks to flick which flies just past the same fielder.

Pujara gets another inside edge as Lyon gets it to turn sharply but there is no fielder at leg slip as the batsman picks two runs.

Rohit takes Lyon as he plays the slog sweep, hitting it uppishly over the leg side. Marcus Harris at deep square leg takes the catch but the momentum takes him over the ropes and he is unable to lob the ball back in time as Rohit gets a six.

He comes down the track and attempts another cross batted swipe but this time he miscues it completely and Harris completes an easy catch running in from deep square leg.

Rohit throws his wicket away with an unbelievable shot, after he had looked good to score 37.

India continue to slip as they are reduced to 86 for five in 38 overs.

Hazlewood tries the bouncer to Rohit, who ducks under it before he watchfully defends the rest of the over.

Pujara looks to have shut shop, as he plays a maiden over from Cummins, to register 29 dot balls in a row. He has managed just 11 from 73 balls and is looking to hold one end up while Rohit goes about looking for runs from his end.

Hazlewood tries the bouncer which goes down the leg side as Rohit misses the pull before he clips the fourth ball square on the leg side for a couple.

Finally, a run for Pujara as he punches Cummins into the covers for a quick single to end the run of 29 dot balls in a row, to take his score to 12.

Rohit goes aerial as he slams a full wide delivery from Cummins for an inside out six over the covers, to take his score to 30, having hit two sixes and two fours so far.

Pat Cummins to start off with the ball in the post-lunch session. Rohit Sharma is well forward to the first ball as he defends it before the next is driven through the covers for a four.

Cummins then drags Rohit forward, who pokes at a wide one, without any footwork and is beaten.

He pulls the last ball to fine leg for a single to retain strike.

Pacer Josh Hazlewood from the other end. Rohit offers no shot to the first two balls before he turns the third on the leg side for one and Pujara defends the last three balls.

Rohit willing to take on the short balls as he pulls Cummins to deep square leg for a single, while Pujara continues to just block from his end.

Australia's fast bowlers chipped away at the wickets in the morning session to leave India reeling on 56 for four at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test at Adelaide on Thursday.

Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 15 from 23 balls, while Cheteshwar Pujara battled his way to 11 from 62 balls in a tough morning session for the visitors.

Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins claimed one wicket each.

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.

India confirmed that specialist batsman Rohit Sharma would take the number six spot vacated by the injured fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, with spin bowling all-rounder Hanuma Vihari missing out.

Australia named their 11 on Wednesday, handing a debut to opener Marcus Harris and dropping vice-captain Marsh in favour of specialist batsman Peter Handscomb.

Cummins back as he replaces Rohit. He gets a full delivery to move away late as Rohit is drawn into the foul shot, playing away from his body, and is lucky not to have edged it.

Cummins tries the short ball as Rohit this time pulls it powerfully over square leg for a six.

The next ball is fuller as Rohit looks to defend but gets the edge which goes on the bounce to second slip.

A watchful Pujara plays out the last over of the session, from Starc, to end the morning session.

Rohit watchfully defends the over from off-spinner Lyon as India look for a good partnership to rally them after the cluster of wickets early on.

Hazlewood gets Pujara to edge one but it falls short of the slips before he manages to play out the rest of the over.

Rohit steers a wide delivery from Lyon past the slip fielder for a couple before he plays a nice drive through the covers for a four as the spinner pitches it right up.

Rohit looking good against the spinner as he hits the fifth ball on the off-side for a single.

Starc comes back for a short spell before the lunch break, with another 10 minutes left for the interval.

After a couple of full wide deliveries, Starc tests Rohit with the short ball, who goes for the pull and ends up mishitting it fine for one. That could have easily gone straight to the fielder at fine leg.

Another short ball, this time to Pujara, who ducks under it as India reach 50 for four in 25 overs.

Pujara has battled hard for 11 from 56 balls, while Rohit is on nine.

Pujara gets on top of the ball as he punches a short wide delivery from Hazlewood square on the off-side for his first boundary.

Hazlewood makes a good comeback as the ball comes in sharply and cuts Pujara in half, narrowly missing the stumps.

Cummins bowling fast and in the right channel as Rahane watchfully defends the pacer's second over.

At the first drinks break, India are struggling on 25 for three in 13 overs.

Spin introduced early as off-spinner Nathan Lyon comes into the attack, replacing Hazlewood, who bowled a good first spell of one for 16 in six overs.

The first ball is on the mark as Pujara is hit on the pads before he clips the third ball to deep square leg for one.

Rahane gets himself in a tangle as he comes down the track and tries to flick, getting the thick inside edge but Peter Handscomb is unable to take a sharp catch at short leg and gives away a single.

Rahane plays a nice drive through the covers as Cummin overpitches for two runs and then takes a single.

Pujara then gets a thick inside edge but again short of the fielder at short leg.

Rahane showing some intent against spinner Lyon as he comes down the track and lofts him over long-on for a six.

Cummins bowling a good spell as Pujara picks a single on the leg side before Rahane gets an edge which falls well short of the slips.

Rahane in trouble again against Lyon as he comes down the track and has to adjust but gets a thick inside edge which falls away from the short leg fielder.

Hazlewood comes back into the attack and strikes with the wicket of Rahane, who is caught at second slip for 13.

Another poor shot from an Indian batsman as Rahane also perishes chasing a wide one, only to get the edge as Handscomb takes a good sharp catch.

India in big trouble on 41 for four, in the 21st over.

A big test for Rohit Sharma, who is making a comeback into the Indian Test team. He is greeted by a bouncer which he ducks under before getting off the mark with a single on the leg side.

Pat Cummins strikes in his very first over, with the big wicket of Virat Kohli, who is caught by Usman Khawaja for three.

Kohli played away from his body, looking to drive a wide one as he gets a thick outside edge and Khawaja dives full length to his left and comes up with a stunning catch. That was an unbelievable catch!

Kohli walks back after scoring just three to leave India in trouble on 19 for three, in the 11th over.

Australia's bowlers have been rewarded for their persistence, pitching it up and forcing the Indian batsmen to make a mistake. All three wickets a result of the batsmen trying to play a drive through the off-side, going after full wide deliveries.

New batsman Ajinkya Rahane gets a full toss first up, which he drives through the covers for two runs to get off the mark.

Pujara turns Hazlewood on the leg side for a single before Virat Kohli also plays a similar shot two balls later for one to get off the mark.

In the next over, Kohli drives Starc through the off-side but the fielder in the covers does well to stop it.

The India captain keeps strike with a single from the last ball on the leg side.

Hazlewood keeps it short against Kohli who ducks under the bouncer and then defends another short one on the off-side. He gets a thick inside edge off the fifth ball on the leg side for a single as India reach 19 for two in 10 overs.

Hazlewood bowls it right up as Vijay drives it through the covers for two runs. Two balls later, he goes hard at a wide delivery as he hits it uppishly past point for the first boundary of the Indian innings, in the seventh over.

The last ball is short and aimed at the body as Vijay manages to turn it to fine leg for one.

Starc keeps it short against Vijay, who defends the first ball but the next couple of balls are down the leg side.

Vijay then gets on top of the short delivery aimed at his body as he guides past the slips for two runs.

The last ball is full as Vijay goes hard, trying to drive it through the covers but gets the edge and is caught behind by wicketkeeper Tim Paine for 11. That was a loose shot from Vijay, playing a loose shot away from his body.

Both openers have perished cheaply to leave India reeling on 15 for two in seven overs.

Vijay gets a beauty from Starc, some extra bounce and moving away as the right-hander is beaten comfortably.

He turns the second ball on the leg side for a single before new batsman Cheteshwar Pujara watchfully defends the first ball he faces. He gets off the mark with a single through the leg side off the last ball.

In the next over, Pujara clips Hazlewood on the leg side past the short leg fielder for one.

Hazlewood then gets one to bounce extra as Vijay does well to keep it down on the off-side and then manages to defend the rest of the over.

Starc gets the ball to angle away from Pujara as he offers no shot to the first two balls before he pokes at the third, which is fuller, and is beaten.

The fifth ball is short and aimed at the body as Pujara looks to block and is hit on the gloves but there is no short leg fielder is place, infact he has has been pushed back a bit.

KL Rahul and Murali Vijay walk out to open the batting for India, while left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will bowl the first over for the hosts.

The first ball is pitched up and shapes in slightly as Rahul defends it back to the bowler with a straight bat.

The next ball is pitched right up as Rahul gets a big inside edge back on to his pads, trying to drive it through the off-side.

He offers no shot to the third ball before clipping the next through midwicket for a couple to get off the mark.

The fifth ball is full and very wide as Rahul opts to leave before he is beaten by the last ball.

Josh Hazlewood from the other end. Murali Vijay defends the first ball solidly but gets a thick inside edge off the next which falls to the left of short leg.

Hazlewood gets the third ball to leave him as Vijay is beaten before he gets another inside edge for a single to get off the mark.

Hazlewood strikes early with the wicket of Rahul, who goes for the big drive through the off-side but gets an edge and is caught by Aaron Finch at third slip for two.

A big blow for India early in the contest as Rahul suffers another failure.

Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah form a strong pace attack for the opening match at the Adelaide Oval, as Virat Kohli's side bids to become the first Indian team to claim a series win in Australia.

Top order batsman Murali Vijay, who was dropped following the second Test against England at Lord's in August, was also included. He will partner Lokesh Rahul at the top of the order, with young opener Prithvi Shaw ruled out from the Test with an ankle injury.

Australia vice-captain and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was left out of the first Test as selectors backed the team's three specialist seamers to bowl a full workload at Adelaide Oval.

Marsh's place in the side for the series-opener, which starts on Thursday, has been taken by middle order batsman Peter Handscomb, recalled for the first time since the tour of South Africa in March and April.

Marcus Harris, who makes his Test debut, will open the batting with Aaron Finch in the opener of the four-match series, Australia's first home Test since Steve Smith and David Warner were banned over the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

India captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in the first Test in Adelaide.

The visitors have included Rohit Sharma at No. 6 ahead of Hanuma Vihari.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma are the three frontline fast bowlers for India, while Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone spinner.

"He is one guy who can play really well with the tail. He has got all the shots you can play in Australia," Kohli reasoned.

Australia have handed Marcus Harris his Test debut, he is set to open the innings.

Welcome to the coverage of the first Test between Australia and India in Adelaide on Thursday.

An Indian team brimming with confidence will aim to finally shed the poor travellers' tag when it takes on a circumspect Australia in what is being perceived as the tourists' best opportunity to win a Test series Down Under in 70 years.

While the narrative remained same during the earlier tours of South Africa (1-2) and England (1-4), Virat Kohli and his men will like to walk the talk as India's tough cycle of away assignment ends with this four-Test series beginning at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

The series is even more important for Kohli as it would also define his legacy as a leader having already established himself as world's premier batsman.

India's past Test record in Australia is quite abysmal. In 44 Tests on Australian soil, they have only managed five wins thus far.

In 70 years and over 11 tours, only two drawn series, under Sunil Gavaskar in 1980-81 and with Sourav Ganguly in charge in 2003-04 is more a reflection of temperament of touring sides over the years rather than quality.

While the idea will be to play aggressive cricket but Indian team management's choice of 12 with both Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari in the mix is an indicator that they have climbed down from their aggressive five-bowler ploy in order to get 20 wickets.

Injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya's absence does upset the balance of the side but getting an Australia side, which is still reeling under the after-effect of the ball tampering scandal with Steve Smith and David Warner serving their respective one-year suspensions.

Rohit Sharma is a prime contender for the extra batsman's slot in Pandya's absence.

He last played Test cricket in South Africa, and had a torrid time, managing only 78 runs in four innings while batting at number five. He is back in the mix, once again on the back of limited-overs' form, and his ability to play horizontal bat shots well.

Tested against the English bowling attack at the Oval, rookie Vihari looked comfortable in scoring his maiden half-century there.

The Indian team management has gone to great lengths trying to explain that the two scorelines aren't necessarily true reflections of the contests, it remains to be seen if the lessons from those two prior tours have been learnt.