Scott Boland has continued his remarkable ability to snare a wicket with his first over after a chaotic start to his opening spell at the SCG on Friday.
Under grey skies in Sydney, Boland took the wicket of Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal with his fourth ball of his first over, snicking off to debutant Beau Webster.
It was Boland's twelfth wicket in his third appearance in the five-match series.
It means 24 per cent of the time the Gulidjan fast bowler bowls his first over in Test cricket, he gets a dismissal.
Coming two overs after Mitchell Starc had fellow opener KL Rahul caught at square leg from a lazy flick, Jaiswal's dismissal left the tourists in the mire at 2/17.
However, more drama was to follow the next ball.
Virat Kohli - already under immense pressure following a lack of form and an acrimonious shoulder charge at debutant Sam Konstas at the Boxing Day test last week - nicked Boland's probing delivery low to Steve Smith's right at second slip.
Smith flicked the ball up into the hands of Marnus Labuschagne in the cordon, with the Australian team ecstatic as they completed a small lap of celebration around the square.
However, third umpire Joel Wilson ended celebrations early, deeming the ball had brushed the turf between Smith getting his hand to the ball and scooping it up.
Despite Smith and the Australian players obvious displeasure, the Indian superstar survived.
It was almost a remarkable scooped team catch to dismiss Kohli first ball, but the ball juuuuust touched the ground 🤯 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WsP1QcwdOW
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 3, 2025
Speaking at lunch to host broadcaster Fox Sports, Smith said he "100 per cent" caught the ball, however accepted the umpire's decision.
Along with the recalled Shubman Gill, the two Indian batsman took India to the cusp of lunch, however as so often has happened to the tourists this series, a brain fade from one their batsman brought about a dismissal.
Gill, who had taken his time and looked comfortable, advanced Nathan Lyon in the last over before lunch, edging to Smith at first slip, leaving India reeling at 3/57.
Earlier, new Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch displaying the greenest of tinges and with the lights on.
It meant the turnaround for the Australian fast bowlers between the end of day five at the MCG on Monday and Friday morning was the shortest for any grouping of Australian quicks since 2006.
