Australia's openers shine before heavy Brisbane rain

Brisbane's rain has poured cold water on the start of the Gabba Test, with Australia fighting to 0-28 after being sent in by India before the rest of day one was washed away.

With a sold-out crowd of more than 30,000 in attendance and the series locked at 1-1, only 13.2 overs were possible before torrential rain hit and turned the Gabba into a lake.

Australia will consider the opening day something of a victory, after being sent in by Rohit Sharma under overcast skies and on a wicket that had an even covering of grass.

Better conditions are expected for Sunday and the rest of the match, meaning any advantage India had by bowling first may well have been nullified.

In an opening session that included a 30-minute stoppage for rain, Australia shone early as Usman Khawaja played with great intent to be 19 not out.

Dismissed 25 times in Test cricket since his last century at the start of the 2023 Ashes, Khawaja twice pulled Mohammed Siraj to the boundary.

He also clipped Jasprit Bumrah for another four to fine leg, with India's strike weapon at times guilty of bowling too straight.

Nathan McSweeney was also not out alongside Khawaja on four when the heavy rain hit, having survived his first session at his childhood home of the Gabba.

For India, they would have been frustrated to go without a wicket after Rohit had no hesitation in sending Australia in to bat.

Siraj in particular bowled too short in his first spell, before moving the ball around more in his second beating the outside edge of Khawaja.

The tourists had earlier made two changes with seamer Akash Deep and spinner Ravindra Jadeja coming in for Harshit Rana and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Jadeja's call up means India have used three spinners across the first three Tests, with Washington Sundar playing in Perth and Ashwin in Adelaide.

Australia's only change from the 10-wicket win in Adelaide was Josh Hazlewood's immediate return from a side strain.

His selection leaves Scott Boland as the unlucky man of Australian cricket, having now played in just 11 of 34 Tests since his magical 2021 debut.