Australia have mounted a solid first innings total in the second Test against India, but the visitors still have a long way to go in order to level the series.
Usman Khawaja was brilliant at the top of the order, scoring a gritty and aggressive 81 before being dismissed reverse-sweeping, while middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb finished with an unbeaten 72 in an impressive display.
However, the pressure on David Warner has continued to mount after a disappointing performance with the bat - and to make matters worse, the experienced opener is struggling with injuries following the Indian fast-bowling barrage.
The hosts saw out the final nine overs of the day without losing a wicket, with an on-field decision being overturned by the DRS to save Rohit Sharma.
The Sporting News had all the live scores, analysis and talking points throughout the day's play below.
India vs Australia 2nd Test live score - End of Day 1
|
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) |
263 (78.4) |
|
INDIA (1st Innings) |
0/21 (9) Rohit Sharma 13* (34) KL Rahul 4* (20) |
India vs Australia Day 1 talking points and analysis
Brutal knocks add insult to injury for David Warner
If being dismissed for another disappointing score wasn't enough, David Warner is now struggling with two separate injury concerns stemming from his innings.
The 36-year-old was caught-behind off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for just 15 on the first day in Delhi, continuing a tough start to the series for the dynamic left-hander.
Warner was struck on the arm early in his dig, as well as being hit on the helmet as the Indian seamers looked to soften up the experienced opener.
After the visitors were bowled out for 263 late in the day, Warner was absent from the field and will reportedly be monitored by Cricket Australia officials.
Handscomb repays the faith with classy half-century
After five-and-a-half years, Peter Handscomb has scored a Test fifty - and he managed to do so at a very important time for the Aussies.
The 31-year-old ended a lengthy exile from the side in the series opener last week, and while his performances were less than spectacular, he did enough to hold his spot for the second Test.
Handscomb repaid the faith the selectors showed him with classy knock against India, playing the spinning ball well and showing great temperament in testing conditions.
Pat Cummins tried to get the tail wagging with a nice 30-odd before being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja, but the rest of the lower-order struggled to go with Handscomb and the visitors were bowled out for 263.
Handscomb finished with an unbeaten 72* including nine boundaries in a quality knock.
Reverse-sweep woes continue again after KL Rahul screamer
For the second game in a row, Australia have been crueled by the reverse-sweep.
In the first Test, wicket-keeper Alex Carey was dismissed twice attempting the difficult shot, both times leaving the visitors in a world of hurt.
On Friday, just as the Aussies looked to be turning the momentum in their favour, Usman Khawaja threw away a century after going to the well one too many times.
The veteran opener is one of the best players of the reverse-sweep in Test cricket, but unfortunately it proved to be his downfall in Delhi, with Indian vice-captain KL Rahul taking an absolute screamer to send him on his way.
Khawaja departed for 81 and prematurely ended a beautiful knock, falling just short of another triple-figure score and giving Ravindra Jadeja his 250th Test wicket.
Moments after Khawaja's exit from the crease, Carey would be caught in the slips for a duck and could have potentially started another batting collapse for the visitors.
Ashwin strikes before tea in massive Aussie blow
Just as the visitors looked like they were starting to build some momentum in the first session, Ravichandran Ashwin strike twice in the same over to put the Indian side back on track.
Marnus Labuschagne was scoring freely before being trapped LBW by the right-arm off-spinner, before Steve Smith was out for a duck after edging a ball to the keeper.
Usman Khawaja became the first Australian to reach fifty so far this series, surviving a late DRS call and making it through to the lunch break unscathed.
India proved that all it takes is a few balls to change the context of the game, and things will get even more interesting after the break when Travis Head faces the music after being dropped for the first Test in Nagpur and returning for the must-win clash.
Is the writing on the wall for David Warner?
It's hard to admit it, but the writing may be on the wall for David Warner in the Test arena.
After scoring a gritty double-century during the Boxing Day Test against the Proteas, there was a sense of optimism that the left-hander had turned around his lean run of form.
But in the first two matches against India, the 36-year-old has struggled in the tough conditions and has fallen for another low total in Delhi.
After being dismissed for 1 and 10 in the series opener, Warner found it tough to get going on the first day of the must-win second Test, before being nicked off by Mohammed Shami for just 15 runs.
While his opening partner Usman Khawaja was playing aggressive cricket, Warner took his time getting off the mark and never looked comfortable on the tricky wicket.
With a massive Ashes series on the horizon in conditions Warner has previously struggled in, now might be the time for the veteran to walk away before he is given a tap on the shoulder.
Kuhnemann debuts, Head returns in Aussie shake-up
Australia's controversial decision to drop Travis Head from the lineup has already been reversed, with the left-hander returning to the side for the second Test in Delhi.
In a move that shocked many in the Australian cricket community, Head was omitted from the side in Nagpur, but will be back on deck in place of Peter Handscomb this time around.
The other big move is the debut of left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who will replace Scott Boland, leaving the visitors with just one seamer in the XI for the must-win clash.
The 26-year-old has been a standout in state cricket and has beaten out Ashton Agar for the role of Australia's third spinner for the second Test.
Australia have won the toss and will bat first on Friday.
India vs Australia 2nd Test confirmed lineups
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann
India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
What time does India vs Australia start?
All four Test matches will begin at 3pm AEDT and 9.30am IST.
How to watch or live stream India vs Australia
Fox Cricket will broadcast each game live and exclusive in Australia, while Star Sports holds the rights to the series in India.
| Australia | India | |
| TV Channel | Fox Cricket | Star Sports |
| Live Stream | Foxtel Go/Kayo Sports | Disney+ Hotstar |