Australia have failed to capitalise on a rollicking start by losing two wickets in the second hour to be 2-75 at lunch on day one of the fourth Test against India in Ahmedabad.
Usman Khawaja (27 not out) and Travis Head (32) put on Australia's best opening partnership of the series after acting captain Steve Smith won the toss and batted on Thursday.
But the aggressive Head, who was promoted to open when David Warner left the tour mid-series due to a broken elbow, went for one big shot too many and was caught at mid-on off star India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's (1-18) bowling.
Australia were 0-61 after 15 overs but could only manage another 14 runs from the next 14.
Smith, not out on two, is Australia's other unbeaten batter with Khawaja.
Marnus Labuschange's disappointing debut Test tour of India continued when the world's No.1-ranked batter was bowled chopping on to seamer Mohammed Shami for three.
It was an impressive second spell from Shami (1-14), who bowled a stunning wide with the first ball of the match in scenes reminiscent of England quick Steve Harmison spraying the opening delivery of the 2006-07 Ashes.
The final Test of the series started after a bizarre political rally before the match involving the prime ministers of both countries, Anthony Albanese, and Narendra Modi, who the 132,000-capacity stadium is named after.
The toss of the coin was delayed by four minutes to accommodate the extravagant meeting between Modi and Albanese.
Both leaders did a lap of honour in a hovercraft with bats and stumps on the back of it as they celebrated "75 years of friendship through cricket".
India made just one change, opting to switch out Mohammed Siraj for fellow fast bowler Shami.
India are desperate to bounce back from losing in Indore and seal their spot in the World Test Championship final with a 3-1 series win.
If the hosts do make the WTC decider, they will meet Australia at The Oval in London in June after the tourists secured their place last week.
Australia have won just two of their last 17 Tests in India since 2004, but enter the match having only performed better the longer the tour has gone.
All three Tests in this series have been won by the team that have lost the toss.
© AAP 2023