Aus vs Ind, 4th Test Day 1: Pujara stays unbeaten on 130 to put India in front

Sydney: Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten on 130 to put India in front on the first day of the fourth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Thursday.

Pujara brought up his third century in the ongoing Test series and his 18th Test ton overall.

At stumps on Day 1, the visitors were 303-4 with Hanuma Vihari (39 not out) at the other end.

Mayank Agarwal (77) notched up his second Test fifty earlier in the day, whereas captain Virat Kohli was dismissed for 23 runs by Josh Hazlewood, who finished with a spell of 2/51.

KL Rahul (9) continued to struggle whereas Ajinkya Rahane was seen off by Mitchell Starc for 18.

India 239-4 after 73 overs

HUNDRED! All stand up and applaud! Cheteshwar Pujara brings up his 3rd hundred in this series. What an innings, what a player! Well played, Che! His 18th Test ton.

India 228-4 after 70.2 overs

WICKET! Mitchell Starc gets his first wicket in the Test. India 4 down as Ajinkya Rahane departs.

Tea break report

Earlier, Mayank Agarwal missed out on a chance to bring up his maiden Test ton before the big guns Pujara and Kohli steered India into a commanding position in the decisive Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

At tea on day one, India were 177 for two with the dependable Pujara on 61, grinding out his fourth half-century of the series, and patient skipper Kohli not out 23 in what is shaping as an ominous partnership.

The visitors lead the series 2-1 after winning the opening clash in Adelaide and the third one in Melbourne. Australia claimed victory in Perth.

If India, the world's top-ranked nation, win or draw in Sydney they will clinch a first-ever series in Australia since they began touring Down Under in 1947-48.

Kohli again won the toss with KL Rahul back in the team to open with Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari dropping to number six to cover for the unavailable Rohit Sharma.

Australia got an early breakthrough with Josh Hazlewood tempting Rahul into a defensive shot that took a outside edge and carried to Shaun Marsh at first slip, and he was gone for nine.

But that only brought the stoic Pujara to the crease and like he has done all series, the 68-Test veteran dug in and blunted the new ball.

He survived a review decision for caught behind on 12, but was otherwise rock solid.

Pujara, who has faced more balls and scored more than anyone else in the series, slowly picked off runs, leaving any flamboyance to others, to bring up his 21st Test half-century in 134 balls.

Playing in only his second Test, the Bangalore-born Agarwal was also impressive.

He was targeted with bouncers and struck on the helmet but held firm, reinforcing his credentials after a solid debut in Melbourne.

He worked hard to make his second Test 50 in only three innings by caressing a Mitchell Starc delivery through the covers for four.

But he began to open up with the bat and after hitting Nathan Lyon for six to bring up his highest Test score of 77, attempted to do the same from the next delivery and was caught by Starc at long-on.

Master batsman Kohli was welcomed by boos from a section of the crowd and immediately silenced them with an exquisite four off Hazlewood.

But it was a restrained Kohli as he and Pujara look to build a big total and take the game away from Australia.

For Australia skipper Tim Paine, it was the sixth toss he had lost in seven Tests and it could prove costly on a Sydney Cricket Ground pitch expected to be conducive to spin as it wears.

When Australia bat, they will have a new look opening pair with Usman Khawaja padding up with Marcus Harris after the underperforming Aaron Finch was axed.

In a surprise throw of the dice, leg-spinning all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne was called up and will come in at three.

Mitch Marsh was also dropped with Peter Handscomb back to counter India's two spinners -- Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.