India's new Test captain Virat Kohli might have got of to a bad start, as his bowlers were thrashed badly by Australian batsman, with the hosts posting a gigantic total of 348 runs for the loss of two wickets at stumps on day one of the fourth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia went in to bat, on a pitch that failed to provide much for the Indian bowlers on day one, after winning the toss.
Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner started brilliantly in an emotionally charged environment at the SCG, where their former teammate Phillip Hughes had endured a fatal bouncer hit on November 25, 2014 and passed two days later in St. Vincent Hospital, failing to regain consciousness.
Warner went on to hit his fourth Test century against India as he contributed 101 runs to the Australian scoreline facing just 114 deliveries. His knock included 16 boundaries.
Warner finally fell prey to Ravichandran Ashwin's off-break as the opener tried to play against the turn, which was angled in and straightened and bounced on middle, and the ball popped up to the gully where Murali Vijay caught it to provide some relief to India.
Rogers fell five runs short of his ton as he scored 95 runs of 160 deliveries, hitting 13 boundaries. Fast-medium bowler Mohammed Shami got Rodgers with a length ball that hit the opener's bat's thick inside edge and clattered into the stumps.
All-rounder Shane Watson played slowly as he reached 61 off 132 deliveries and would resume batting for Australia on day two with skipper Steven Smith, who remained unbeaten on 82 runs.
