India put up a formidable display on Day 1 of the second Test match against Australia in Delhi, restricting the visitors to a modest total of 263.
Seamer Mohammed Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking four wickets for 60 runs.
Meanwhile, R Ashwin, the veteran off-spinner, picked up three wickets for 57 runs, becoming only the second Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets against Australia after Anil Kumble (111).
Ravindra Jadeja, the left-arm spinner, also contributed to the Indian bowling effort with a three-wicket haul, taking his tally of Test wickets to 252.
Australia had a promising start, with a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket, but soon lost their way, with Usman Khawaja holding one end while his partners failed to contribute.
Khawaja added 59 runs with Peter Handscomb, who exhibited a patient knock and remained unbeaten on 72 off 142 deliveries, scoring his fifth half-century.
Khawaja, who has been sensational since his Test return, hammered a 125-ball 81 (4s: 12, 6s: 1) but was dismissed by inducing a loose shot by Jadeja.
The middle and lower order failed to offer any resistance, and Australia lost their last five wickets for just 95 runs.
India’s opening pair, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, played out the remaining nine overs to end Day 1 on a positive note, tallying 21/0.
Sharma overturned a catch-out appeal at the dying stages, and the duo will look to put Australia under pressure on Day 2.
Shami’s four-wicket haul was his 18th in Tests and his first in this series.
He broke the opening partnership with the prized scalp of David Warner (15), and took the last two wickets as Australia perished on 263.
Shami bowled attacking lines and lengths, which reflected in his economy rate of over four, but he also produced four wickets, with his last two wickets coming off short-pitched deliveries that troubled the Australian tail-enders.
Ashwin, who looked the most threatening bowler, operated over two long spells to pick up 3 for 57 in 21 overs, including the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith in the same over moments before lunch.
Ashwin has been in excellent form in home Tests, and his bowling figures in the ongoing Test series prove that. He has already taken seven wickets in two innings, and his average of 13.57 is the best among all Indian bowlers in the series.
Jadeja, who had an off day, conceded boundaries regularly off the back foot and went at 3.23 an over but was still good enough to take three wickets. In the process, he reached the milestone of 250 scalps.
For Australia, Khawaja and Handscomb were the only ones who made substantial contributions with the bat, and the middle and lower order failed to build on the good start.
Travis Head and skipper Pat Cummins added short yet pivotal stands to take the score to a respectable 263, but the Australian tail-enders couldn’t withstand the Indian bowling attack.
India will be looking to build on their impressive performance on Day 1, with the openers expected to give them a good start on Day 2.
With a lead of 242 runs, India will look to put up a massive total and put Australia under pressure.
Brief scores
Australia 1st Innings: 263 all out in 78.4 overs (Usman Khawaja 81; Peter Handscomb 72 not out; Mohammed Shami 4/60).
India 1st Innings: 21 for no loss in 9 overs (Rohit Sharma 13 not out; Nathan Lyon 0/4)
India Playing XI:Â
Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (WK), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Australia Playing XI:Â
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann
