Sachin Tendulkar's century ensured India took the honours on day one of the fourth Test against Australia in Adelaide, a match the touring side must win the square the series.

The Little Master was unbeaten on 124 at the close, with India handily placed on 309 for five having taken the calculated selection gamble of picking five bowlers, including Harbhajan Singh, the spinner, who returned at the expense of Wasim Jaffer, an opening batsman.

Such a bold policy deserved some reward, and India duly won the toss, Anmil Kumble unhesitating in his decision to bat first on one of the best wickets in world cricket.

Tendulkar’s century was the centrepiece, though India were helped by some poor fielding by the Australians, who dropped crucial catches at crucial times. There were also half-century contributions from Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman as the India continued their good form from the Waca, where victory had narrowed Australia's lead in the four-Test series to 2-1.

Australia showed two changes from Perth, Brad Hogg, the spinner, replacing the wayward pace bowler Shaun Tait and Matthew Hayden returning after injury in place of Chris Rogers, though the big left-hander must have been lamenting India having first use of this run-friendly pitch.

Irfan Pathan, who performed impressively in the victory at Perth, was asked to open the batting but Sehwag caught the eye, producing some fluid strokes as India got off to a quick start before a disciplined home attack reined them back.

Pathan clipped Mitchell Johnson to the midwicket boundary off the first ball he faced, while Sehwag drove Brett Lee for four, though the latter had an escape when he edged an inswinging delivery from Johnson narrowly past his stumps.

Johnson remained unperturbed, however, and after seeing Sehwag edge a streaky boundary through the vacant third-slip area, managed to get one to leave Pathan off the pitch to claim the opening wicket.

The left-hander nicked the ball to Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps when playing away from his body to depart for nine and leave India 34 for one.

The left-arm seamer then claimed his second wicket of the morning when he angled a ball across Rahul Dravid that found some extra bounce and the batsman edged it to Ricky Ponting to depart for a sluggish 18.

Sehwag brought up his half-century off 68 balls - he hit six boundaries - as India reached 89 for two at lunch before Johnson had a big shout for lbw against the batsman turned down shortly after the interval.

At the other end, Tendulkar got off the mark with a glorious on-drive off Lee before stroking Johnson for three consecutive boundaries, the first through point to bring up India's hundred.

Tendulkar then paddled Hogg around the corner for four before Australia claimed a third wicket when Sehwag tried to cut Lee, the lack of footwork leading to him only steering the ball to Hayden at first slip.

Tendulkar also escaped when he edged Lee between gully and second slip for four but then showed his class in dispatching Hogg over the mid-on boundary for six.

However, Ganguly then fell lbw for seven when trying to sweep the spinner, although he looked well forward. The decision appeared to displease him greatly as he lingered at the crease before finally departing.

That brought Laxman to the middle and he got off the mark with a leg glance off Stuart Clark before Tendulkar completed his 50 off 77 balls.

Laxman and Tendulkar made careful progress in the evening session with the former surviving a glorious chance for the Australians.

Lee found the edge of Laxman’s bat when he had made 37, and the ball flew to Gilchrist who fumbled the ball to his right to groans from the crowd.

Laxman took advantage of his reprieve to add another 14 runs before Gilchrist made amends for his earlier error with an even easier catch than the one he dropped.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Tendulkar and survived a sitter of his own when he edged Johnson to Hayden at first slip, who was aghast to see it spin off his fingertips, allowing India to reach stumps without further loss.