Dharamsala Test: Australia 131/1 at lunch vs India

Dharamsala, Mar 25: Scoring at a decent rate of 4. 22 runs per over, Australia were 131/1 at lunch on Day 1 of the fourth Test at the picturesque HPCA stadium here this morning.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, the visitors received an early blow when pacer Umesh Yadav striked in the second over of the day to dismiss opener Matt Renshaw (1) with the Australian scorecard reading just 10.

However, the kangaroos didn't look back from there and repaired the early damage by adding another 121 runs without losing a single wicket in the first session of the day.

Opener David Warner and skipper Steve Smith, who came after Renshaw's dismissal, stitched a crucial partnership dominating the entire session.

Warner and Smith were unbeaten on 54 and 72 runs respectively when the umpires called for lunch break.

Earlier in the morning, India received a major blow ahead of the Dharamsala decider when Virat Kohli was ruled of the final test, who is nursing a shoulder injury, and was replaced by Kanpur chinaman Kuldeep Yadav.

In absence of Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane is leading the Team India.

Brief Scores: Australia 131/1 in 31 overs (D Warner 52*, S Smith 72*), U Yadav 1/29 UNI XC-KU SV SB 1203