Ravichandran Ashwin took two quick wickets to break the Australian resistance before lunch on day one of the second test.

The offspinner’s twin strikes left Australia at 94-3 (25 overs) at the break. Usman Khawaja (50 not out) and Travis Head (1 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen.

Ashwin trapped Marnus Labuschagne (18) lbw in the 23rd over after India opted for a DRS review.

Two balls later, Steve Smith was caught behind for a duck. Ashwin induced a low edge, caught well by keeper Srikar Bharat as the session turned on its head.

Australia had initially put up strong resistance after opting to bat. David Warner (15) and Khawaja lasted 92 balls together and put on 50 runs for the first wicket.

Indian pacers Mohammed Shami (1-31) and Mohammed Siraj (0-14) managed to extract movement from the Delhi pitch.

The Australian openers negotiated the first hour of play without loss, putting on 37 runs in 13 overs. Their 50-stand came off 84 balls before Shami broke Warner’s resistance, with the opener caught behind off a rising delivery.

Khawaja provided a keen contest for Ashwin, who had been introduced in the seventh over.

He added 41 runs with Labuschagne before Ashwin broke through in the run-up to lunch.

Ashwin’s dual strikes in the 23rd over reduced Australia to 91-3.

Ravindra Jadeja (0-11) then had a loud shout for lbw against Khawaja turned down, as the ball seemed to be going down leg side.

India has a 1-0 lead in the four-match series after it won the first test in Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs.