India reach 6/233 on day one against Australia after Virat Kohli stranded on 74

Virat Kohli is staring down a crazy 12-year first for his own career after the man taking his job for the second Test left the Indian star for dead.

Tim Paine and Australia celebrate Virat Kohli's dismissal.

The spoils have been split on day one of the first Test with India finishing on 6/233 in a tough day of Test cricket.

Runs were at a premium with Cheteshwar Pujara taking 160 balls to score 43 and Virat Kohli taking 180 balls for his 74 with India playing a patient game to build towards 300.

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Kohli was brutally run out late in the day and now has just the second innings of the match to crack his first century of the year.

He has scored a Test century in every calendar year since 2012 and claimed a century in every year since 2008, his first season in International cricket.

This year he's played in nine ODIs, 10 T20s and is in his third Test.

The day started perfectly for Australia with Mitchell Starc bowling Prithvi Shaw with the second ball of the day as the opener caught an inside edge back onto his own stumps.

Australia kept it tight, taking another wicket when Mayank Agarwal was bowled through the gate by Pat Cummins.

But it brought Pujara and Kohli together to build a 68-run stand over 32 overs with patience at a premium.

Kohli appeared to get a life early when Tim Paine was talked out of a review when the Indian skipper was on 16.

Nathan Lyon drifted a ball down the leg side with Paine and the men around the bat going up.

The appeal was turned down but they took the whole 15 seconds to turn down the DRS.

Australia may have made the biggest decision of this Test match.

On Fox Sports, Brett Lee said: "I think he was talked out of it."

It was initially baffling - until the replay showed that there may have been something to the appeal.

While the ball went past, it look like it may have flicked the glove despite nothing showing up on Snicko so it's hard to know if it would have been overturned but the evidence seemed clear to the commentators.

"Look at that glove," Adam Gilchrist said. "Was it there previously or has it come from rubbing on the top of the blade."

"Definitely ball on glove I reckon," Lee said.

"He's dodged one there," Kerry O'Keefe added.

Later, he added: "I just thought there was a sheepishness about Kohli's initial look, he felt something I think. They can turn a game."

Harsha Bhogle said: "I'm surprised they didn't up because they have three DRS referrals in this series, especially because there's a keeper at short leg."

On Channel 7, they weren't as kind to Paine for the close call.

“Just clipped the finger on the bottom hand, see it just there, on the underneath part of the club,” Ricky Ponting said. “There was a reaction from Paine, he knew it had hit something, but there probably wasn’t just enough support around him to look upstairs and use the DRS.”

James Brayshaw added: “Jeez, he’s had a DRS nightmare Tim Paine, they’ve got three in this series too.”

Virat Kohli passed 50 but couldn't get to his elusive century.

Former Aussie star Damien Fleming also: “Is there some sort of school he can go to, to get a diploma in DRS, because it hasn’t been his friend over the years has it.”

Paine has been slammed about his DRS calls in previous years as well, particularly in the 2019 Ashes series, with the third Test going England's way after a bungled DRS call.

OMG What is it with #TimPaine and bloody reviews #wade says review and Paine says NO
Bloody hopeless its @imVkohli will make us pay @cricketcomau please help him #OMG @7Cricket @FoxCricket #crucial

— Darryn Lyons (@DarrynLyons) December 17, 2020

First review/non review blue of the summer? And likely the biggest. #AUSvIND

— Andrew Faulkner (@AndrewFaulkner9) December 17, 2020

Australia were luckier later on when Cheteshwar Pujara was caught down the leg side for 43 off 160 balls.

But Indian vice captain Ajinkya Rahane combined with the skipper for an 88 run stand before a disastrous run out cost Kohli his wicket.

Isa Guha called it a "soft soft dismissal" with Rahane hitting it straight to Josh Hazelwood before taking off for the run.

But he quickly changed his mind with Hazelwood tossing it back to Lyon to do the honours.

Former Aussie captain Allan Border had just mentioned how good the pair had been between the wickets but two balls later the drama happened.

It proved to be the commentators curse.

"That's a terrible run, he's run his captain out, it's as simple as that," Border said. "That's just absolutely done like a dinner."

Virat Kohli was far from happy after just the second run out in his career.

Kerry O'Keeffe said: "Turn me over on the BBQ. This was the yes call committed Kohli and then no, no with Kohli absolutely floundering. He's copped it sweet, his vice captain has absolutely nailed him."

Kohli was furious with Hanuma Vihari taking a wide berth as he made his way onto the field and Kohli stormed into the tunnel.

Rahane couldn't even make Australia pay, following soon after as Mitchell Starc had him LBW for 42.

He was quickly followed by Hanuma Vihari also LBW, but Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin combined for 27 late on day one, showing Australia there's still some hard work to be done.

Play is scheduled to start at 2.30pm ACDT (3pm AEDT).