David Warner's misery continued in India and fans were quick to lash the veteran after he gave away his wicket for just one run.

The 36-year-old's off stump was almost sent to Rajasthan after he was bowled by Mohammed Shami on the opening morning of Australia's first Test against India in Nagpur, compounding Warner's misery in the subcontinent.

The Aussies fell to a lowly 174-8 on a disastrous start to their trip to India. 

Warner averages just 24.25 in India and his poor showings in the country led to some calls for him to be dropped for the first Test of the four-match series.

However, selectors opted to give the veteran a chance, with the in-form Travis Head forced to make way for Warner.

But that call risks backfiring and Warner did little to justify his selection after once again losing his wicket to an opponent bowling around the wicket and pitching it into him.

Unsurprisingly, fed up fans took to Twitter to insist that Warner is on 'borrowed time', with the 36-year-old desperate to play in the Ashes later this year.

'That was terrible from Warner,' one fan said. 'Imagine you're the in form Travis Head and David Warner gets picked to play like that.

'He's surely on borrowed time, too much borrowed I think.' 

Another said: 'So if Travis Head is getting dropped because he can't play overseas... why the hell does David Warner keep getting the benefit of the doubt?'

A third added: 'Travis Head dropped for India due to horrible away Test record. David Warner:' alongside a GIF of an anxious individual. 

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed four wickets in the second session as India bowled Australia out for 177 on day one of the opening test in Nagpur on Thursday.

Having lost both their openers inside the first 13 deliveries, Australia staged a mini-recovery after Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith forged an 82-run stand.

Jadeja (4-45) removed both batsmen after lunch and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-41) struck twice to keep India on top.

Peter Handscomb, picked ahead of Travis Head, was batting on 29 at the break with Nathan Lyon yet to open his account at the other end.

Touring captain Pat Cummins had opted to bat on a spin-friendly track but Australia were rattled early after Mohammed Siraj, sharing the new ball with Mohammed Shami, dismissed Usman Khawaja lbw for one with his first delivery.

Jadeja removed Labuschagne stumped and dismissed Matt Renshaw for a first-ball duck to be on a hat-trick.

While that feat eluded him, Jadeja claimed the crucial wicket of Smith with an extra delivery he had to bowl for having sent down a no-ball earlier in that over.

Alex Carey (36) decided to counter-attack but his 33-ball cameo fizzled out after he fluffed a reverse sweep against Ashwin, who also removed Cummins.

Todd Murphy scored a duck in his debut test to become Jadeja's fourth victim in the match.

For India, Suryakumar Yadav, the top-ranked Twenty20 batter, made his test debut alongside wicketkeeper KS Bharat.

Delhi, Dharamsala and Ahmedabad host the other matches of the four-test series.