Dropped catches, DRS controversy, Scott Boland on a hat-trick and multiple body blows were the main storylines in a drama filled day one at the SCG.
As Jasprit Bumrah walked out to the toss, the worst kept secret in cricket was confirmed, with usual captain Rohit Sharma officially out of the side.
Bumrah's first crucial decision was to bat on a green deck after winning the toss.
AS IT HAPPENED: Australia vs India fifth Test, day one
It was a disastrous 1-11 start for India with KL Rahul flicking the ball to Sam Konstas at square leg to give the youngster his first Test catch.
Mitchell Starc celebrates the dismissal of KL Rahul. Getty
"That's a soft dismissal if there ever was one," Ravi Shastri said on Fox Cricket.
Fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal then followed him moments later when he nicked Boland to Beau Webster to make it 2-17.
The very next ball controversy arose when it looked like Steve Smith had miraculously popped a Virat Kohli nick from second slip to Marnus Labuschagne at gully. Upon review, third umpire Joel Wilson said it was not out, ruling the ball had touched grass.
Smith was defiant that he'd "100 per cent" caught the ball when asked later.
Steve Smith delivers a send off during India's innings. Getty
More drama followed right on the stroke of lunch as Shubman Gill tried to slow down play. Smith said to him "let's play" before Gill accused him of doing the same thing.
The next ball Gill charged down the wicket and edged Nathan Lyon's delivery to Smith at slip with India 3-57 at the break.
An extremely slow session then followed as India tried to defend their way around a spicy wicket, before eventually Kohli was dismissed for 17 off 69 balls with Webster taking another catch from Boland's bowling.
Ravindra Jadeja was then dropped twice throughout the session, with Smith and Lyon the guilty parties. Pant also copped a number of blows to his body and helmet by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins as he continued to defend the fast bowlers.
By tea, India were 4-107, with only 50 runs added.
Pant continued to fight in the third session but was eventually brought unstuck by a Scott Boland short ball. The left-hander skied his pull shot which was caught by Pat Cummins and walked off for 40 off 98 balls.
"He walked off, dropped the glove, he half threw it out of disgust at himself again," Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
The next ball, Boland put himself on a hat-trick with Nitish Kumar Reddy nicking it to Smith.
Scott Boland celebrates the wicket of Nitish Kumar Reddy. Getty
Boland couldn't claim the hat-trick but did receive a big applause from the Member's Stand as he walked to fine leg.
Starc then had his second wicket of the day, trapping Jadeja in front for 26.
Third umpire Wilson was involved again when Washington Sundar was given not out for a caught behind off Pat Cummins.
The Aussie skipper opted to review and a slight spike on snicko resulted in the decision being reversed.
Sundar was slow to leave the ground, much was his dismay at the call.
"The batsman has got to get off … otherwise you're going to cause issues with the crowd," Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
"There was something there, it was miniscule … it must of been a slight brush," Kerry O'Keeffe added.
Not everyone was convinced though, with Michael Vaughan describing the call as "awful".
Eventually late on day one India would be bowled out for 185 with Starc and Cummins taking the final wickets.
Boland finished with the best figures of 4-31.
Australia's innings started in classic Sam Konstas fashion with the rookie charging Bumrah on his first ball and hitting him for a boundary.
The body blows continued that same over with Usman Khawaja struck on the finger and receiving medical attention.
More drama came in the last over when Usman Khawaja was slow to face up with Bumrah and Konstas almost coming face-to-face in a heated exchange.
Bumrah had the last laugh though with Khawaja caught in the slips for 2 as Australia finished the day 1-9.
"All sorts of drama here … the perfect finish," Gilchrist said.
"You cannot take your eyes off this," Isa Guha added.