IND vs AUS: Indian batsmen's longstanding struggles against spin thoroughly exposed before Australia

Indian batters' longstanding struggles against spin were thoroughly exposed before Australia applied mselves on a rank turner to take control of third Test on a frantic opening day of match here on Wednesday.

Left-arm spinner Matw Kuhnemman (5/16) picked up his maiden five-wicket haul as Australia skittled India out for a paltry 109 shortly after lunch on day one. Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 22 off 52 balls.

Trailing 0-2 in series, Australia came out with a strong resolve and purpose to end day at 156 for four, taking a 47-run le.

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Ravindra Jeja (4/63) took all four wickets for India including that of stand-in captain Steve Smith (26 off 38) before close of play.

Usman Khawaja (60 off 147) was standout performer for Australia as he tackled skill-full Jeja and R Ashwin with a straight bat and soft hands.

Marnus Labuschagne (31 off 91 balls), who was bowled off a no ball early in his innings, rode on his luck to share a 96-run stand with Khawaja, highest partnership of series for visitors.

Though usually accurate Indian spinners were not relentless with ir lines and lengths, Khawaja and Labuschagne rectified "sweeping" mistakes y me in Delhi by playing straight and trusting ir defense.

When India were batting, pitch seemed unplayable but Khawaja and Co. showed way to home team.

Khawaja's gritty knock also h a couple of drives on off-side. He was also not shy of playing reverse sweep but mostly played straight.

southpaw hardly put a foot wrong in his crafty knock but when he did, he h to pay for it. In 43rd over of innings, Khawaja went for sweep from around off-stump off Jeja and ended up giving a catch at deep midwicket.

Like Nagpur and Delhi, game is set for anor three-day finish and a 100-run le on this surface will be worth gold.

India were also guilty of bowling four no-balls.

Earlier, having lost seven of batters by end of opening session, India could d only 25 more runs to ir total with Kuhnemann ending with career-best figures in first-class cricket.

If it wasn't for Umesh Yav's 17 off 13 balls, India would have struggled to get past 100-run mark.

only wicket that came India's way in afternoon session was of Travis He (9), who missed a straight ball from Jeja to be judged lbw.

It was a sign of desperation that India exhausted two of ir three views in first 10 overs. Labuschagne got a second life when India did not review a lbw call off Ashwin. great Matw Hayden on air called black soil surface at Holkar Stium a day-three pitch and it sure behaved like one.

Three India batters including skipper Rohit Sharma (12), Jeja (4) and Shreyas Iyer (0) perished while trying to attack.

Kohli looked assured in middle before being trapped lbw by Todd Murphy towards end of session. Winning toss for first time in series, India expectedly decided to bat first. Shubman Gill replaced an out-of-form K L Rahul in playing eleven while Umesh Yav was brought in for rested Mohamm Shami.

Having regained match fitness, both Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green me Australia's playing eleven.

Starc's first over to Rohit was among highlights of morning session. Before spinners ran through Indian batting, Starc got ball to swing giving India skipper a tough time.

Rohit got a faint outside edge on very first ball he faced but Australia did not take a review. Three balls later, Starc got ball to swing back in and it flicked Rohit's ps. Ball tracking showed ball would have hit off stump but Australia did not take review.

Spin was introduced in sixth over and Kuhnemman got ball to turn sharply. In last ball of over, Rohit stepped out to play across line and got beaten in flight and Alex Carey me a clean stumping.

Kuhnemann h Gill caught at first slip with opener getting a thick outside edge while offering a forward defence.

Cheteshwar Pujara's stay lasted only four balls as Lyon got one to turn massively from wide off stump that crashed into middle stump. ball kept a t low as well and Pujara was found wanting on back foot.

When Shreyas Iyer played an attempted cut on to his stumps, India h lost half ir side.