Talk of opening-session chaos proved to be off the mark but it didn't take long for the Perth Stadium pitch to start playing tricks in the second Test, something Marcus Harris and a more-fortunate Tim Paine could attest to.
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Harris' freak dismissal on 70 after lunch on day one and Australian skipper Paine's lucky escape late in the final session highlighted the demons lurking in the new stadium's wicket as the hosts went to stumps at 6-277.
Australia lost three wickets during Friday's second session, capped by a freakish delivery from India's part-time offspinner Hanuma Vihari which reared up off a crack and caught Harris' edge to deny the youngster a maiden Test century.
Paine was beaten all ends up by an unplayable delivery from Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball which jagged off a crack and flew over wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant's head for four byes.
Bumrah could hardly believe his misfortune and Paine appeared to be equally astonished that his stumps were still standing.
The variable bounce on offer after lunch on day one - some deliveries flew off the pitch while a couple barely carried through to the wicketkeeper - was in contrast to the relatively tame behaviour of the wicket in the opening session.
Paine and counterpart Virat Kohli were greeted by an enticing green deck and predictions that it would play similarly to the WACA Ground of old, famous for its menacing bounce and tendency to produce devastating spells.
Australia's skipper didn't hesitate to send India into the field on a 38-degree day, a decision that paid dividends when Harris and Aaron Finch (50) put on a 112-run partnership on the green deck.
"Marcus Harris getting bumped out by a 100km/h offspinner might have been the first time for that for a while in Test cricket," Finch joked.
"At times, you can be a little bit daunted by the colour of the grass, but I thought we played reasonably well in that first session to get through unscathed."
India's four-man pace attack lifted after lunch, led by Bumrah who trapped Finch lbw and tied down Usman Khawaja (five) in a brilliant spell before Umesh Yadav finished the job.
The pitch is expected to quicken up as the match progresses, with additional moisture added to the pitch on day one to negate the searing heat.
Australian Associated Press
