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Australia dismissed India for 185 on day one of the fifth Test but a fired-up Jasprit Bumrah struck with the final ball of the day to boost the tourists late on.
Bumrah had opener Usman Khawaja caught at second slip for two and turned to celebrate in the face of 19-year-old Sam Konstas, with India thinking both batters were wasting time in what proved to be the last over.
The tourists, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-five series and need to win to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, had earlier tentatively edged to their total on a lively Sydney pitch.
They left out struggling captain Rohit Sharma but the move did little to improve the fortunes of their top order as Scott Boland took 4-31.
India were 72-4 when Boland dismissed Virat Kohli for 17 and 120-6 when Rishabh Pant, who top scored with a cautious 40, and Nitish Kumar Reddy fell to the seamer in consecutive balls.
But Bumrah, captaining India in Rohit's place, hit three fours and a six in a 17-ball 22 to lift the total and his dismissal left time for India to have three overs at Australia before the close.
The hosts looked to have survived with Bumrah accusing Khawaja of wasting time in the final over, before exchanging words with Konstas as Australia ran the clock down to ensure there was not time for another over.
However, Bumrah had the last laugh as he dismissed Khawaja for a sixth time this series, the left-hander poking an edge to KL Rahul, who took a fine low catch.
It left Australia, who need only a draw to regain the trophy, 9-1.
India need a win to remain in contention to qualify for the World Test Championship final later this year.
After the build-up to this series-finale was dominated by doubts over whether Rohit, who has scored just 31 runs across five innings the series, would keep his place he was duly dropped and India attempted to cautiously counter Australia's bowlers on a pitch offering bounce and seam movement.
Just 57 runs were scored in the morning session and only another 50 for the loss of Kohli in the afternoon.
Pant, heavily criticised for throwing away his wicket in Melbourne, was repeatedly hit on the body and when he was tempted to finally miscue a pull India were in the 57th over with only 120 runs on the board.
But if their batting was unusually subdued, the finale in the evening gloom was anything but.
Bumrah was initially irked by Khawaja holding play up by backing away and claiming he was not ready to face a delivery.
He offered words from the top of his run-up and Konstas, who had already charged his first ball while playing in just his second Test, responded with some of his own from the non-striker's end, to the point the umpire had to step between the pair.
Konstas then walked down the wicket to bump gloves with Khawaja, as Australia further ran the clock down.
Khawaja left the following delivery alone but when Bumrah straightened his line for the last the left-hander awkwardly poked forward.
After the catch was taken, Bumrah immediately turned to Konstas, although checked his celebration as his India team-mates rushed in to congratulate him – an indication they remain up for the fight despite rumours of unrest in the camp beforehand.
Rohit's absence resulted in Rahul being promoted to open but he chipped Mitchell Starc to square leg for four in the fifth over.
Nathan Lyon had Rohit's replacement in the XI, Shubman Gill, caught at slip on the stroke of lunch but the rest of Australia's damage was done by the quick bowlers who were all impressive.
Boland nicked off Yashavi Jaiswal in the eighth over and Australia thought the seamer had dismissed Kohli with his next ball as an edge was scooped up by Steve Smith at second slip and grasped by Marnus Labuschagne. However, the third umpire deemed the ball was grounded as Smith took the initial catch - a decision which left the former Australia captain perplexed.
Ultimately, it cost only 17 runs. Kohli's difficult run since a century in the first Test continued as he became Boland's second victim, departing to a catch behind the stumps for the sixth innings in succession.
Boland did not concede a boundary until his 18th over – evidence of his accuracy and India's tentative batting – while his dismissal of Reddy was his 50th wicket in 13 Tests.
All-rounder Beau Webster, making his debut in place of the out-of-form Mitchell Marsh, bowled nicely for figures of 0-29 in 13 overs but India could have shown more intent against the tall seamer.
When the aggression did come it first came from Bumrah's bat and it gave the tourists a hint of momentum - and he followed that with the ball, claiming the wicket of Khawaja, his 31st of the series.
With good weather forecast for Saturday, however, Australia will still know they are on top, especially as the surface could be at its best for batting on day two.
Former Australia coach and batter Darren Lehmann on ABC: "India missed a trick. They should have been a little more aggressive. I was disappointed with the way they played.
"On the flip side Australia bowled very well and controlled the game. Boland was outstanding.
"Australia will be more aggressive. If they bat 70 overs they will be 250/260 and that will be the difference in the game."
Australia all-rounder Beau Webster: "It was great to have a few family members here. It all happened pretty quickly.
"There was plenty of seam movement – almost too much at times. It will be a real grind with the bat to put some totals on the board."
