Australians run through India A

Australia A have ripped India A out for 135 on the opening day of their four-day clash in Chennai.

New South Wales quick Gurinder Sandhu claimed the best of the bowling figures with 3-25, while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar returned enjoyed a successful from a shoulder injury, taking 2-23 as the home side was stunned in oppressively hot conditions.

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Agar celebrates Kohli's wicket // BCCI

In reply, Australia’s opening pair Cameron Bancroft (24) and captain Usman Khawaka (13) had taken the score to 43 without loss shortly before stumps.

India A lost Cheteshwar Pujara for 11 in the 11th over of the day, chopping on a delivery from Victorian Marcus Stoinis (1-21 off 10) who had impressed in the opening drawn match of the tour against the same opposition.

The wicket saw the introduction of Indian superstar Virat Kohli, playing in this fixture as part of his preparation for the national side’s tour of Sri Lanka next month.

After the spin of Steve O’Keefe removed Abhinav Mukund (15), it was Agar who snared the prized wicket of Kohli, trapped lbw for 16.

"It was very satisfying to get Virat Kohli out," Agar said after play.

"I look up to him as a batsman, he's one of my favourite players to watch bat. 

"To get the opportunity to bowl to him was great, to get him out was even better. I was very pleased with that." 

Agar, who bowled 12 overs on his first class return a shoulder injury, said he was feeling very happy with his physical state.

"My shoulder is feeling very good," the Western Australian said. 

"It gets a bit stiff sometimes, like after a break. But other than that it feels really good.

"It loosend up nicely, I felt fluent, I felt like I as getting through the crease normally so I'm very happy with how it's progresing."

When O’Keefe grabbed a second wicket, that of Shreyas Iyer for one, the hosts were in all sorts of strife at 4-53, but a measured partnership between Karun Nair and Naman Ojha took the score past 100.

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Karun Nair hit a half-century for India A // BCCI

From there, things fell away dramatically as the Australians seized control of the contest.

"There's enough variable bounce in pitch that if one shoots low you're a chance for lbw or bowled, and if one kicks a bit, there's a chance it can be caught in slips or in front of the wicket," Agar said.

"We had our plan and we stuck to it the whole time. Though we didn't get any wickets in the middle session, the scoreboard wasn't moving. 

"We knew if we got two quickly they were in a lot of trouble and that's what happened, and we were able to run through the tail in the end."

Ojha had struggled to 10 from 84 deliveries when he became Agar’s second victim, triggering a dramatic collapse that saw India A lose 6-26 with Sandhu ripping through the tail.

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Sandhu picked up three wickets for the Australians // BCCI

"The pitch was a bit faster than we had in the previous game," Sandhu said. "It was really hard on top at the start so there was some better carry on the last game.

"They couldn't really score against us, there were no bad balls to put away, we were bowling straight, stump-to-stump, with good fields set so that's what you've got to do.

"That's what we learnt from the last game, you've got to make it tough to score for the opposition, and then when you can take some wickets that's the time to get on top."

Andrew Fekete (2-33) was the other wicket-taker for the tourists, who enjoyed a day to remember in the Chennai heat. 

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