Pune: Mitchell Starc smashed an unbeaten 57 to lift Australia to 256 for nine at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against India in Pune on Thursday.

Starc put on 51 runs in a 10th wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood, who made just one, to thwart the Indian bowling attack, which had reduced the visitors to 205-9.

Matt Renshaw, who overcame a stomach bug which forced him to retire hurt mid innings, remained the top-scorer with his gritty 68 while India’s Umesh Yadav claimed four wickets.

Indian spinners rattled Australia’s top-order to leave the visitors reeling at 153 for four at tea on the opening day of the first Test in Pune on Thursday.

Matt Renshaw (38), who returned to the crease after retiring with an upset stomach in the morning session, was batting alongside Mitchell Marsh (2) at the break.

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got the prized wicket of skipper Steve Smith for 27 at the start of the four-match series.

Australia were 84-1 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against India Thursday after an impressive opening stand which was broken by the dismissal of David Warner just before the break.

Warner and his fellow opener Matt Renshaw put on 82 for the first wicket after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat first in Pune, India's newest Test venue.

But Warner was bowled by seamer Umesh Yadav for 38 and Renshaw retired unwell for 36. Skipper Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh were not the not-out batsmen at the break, having both made one.

 ‘It’s a very dry pitch, won’t bounce. Looks different to the T20 games I’ve played here,’ Smith, who plays for the Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League, said at the toss.

‘Our preparations have been great, about executing our skills under pressure,’ Smith said of the much-anticipated four-match series.

Virat Kohli’s India, who beat Bangladesh in a one-off Test earlier this month, have opted for three spinners at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

Off-spinner Jayant Yadav was added to the starting line-up in place of seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

‘I don’t come to the toss expecting anything. These things you have to keep out of contention. Looking at it as a challenge ... Reverse swing will be a big factor,’ said Kohli.

India: Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

Australia: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Steven Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)

TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)