Phillip Hughes hit a quick-fire 45 to help Australia to 94-2 after the morning session of day one of the fourth Test match with India.
Despite winning the toss, the tourists lost an early wicket when David Warner was dismissed for a duck after he edged to Virat Kohli at slip off the bowling of Ishant Sharma.
That brought Hughes to the crease, who, together with Ed Cowan, put on a second-wicket partnership of 67, which included 10 boundaries from Hughes in a blistering innings off 59 balls.
However, the left-hander fell five runs short of a seventh Test match fifty when he was bowled by Sharma.
That wicket brought captain Shane Watson out into the middle, and he reached lunch unbeaten on 16, while Cowan ended the session on 27 off 83 balls.
