After days of speculation, we finally have an answer: India captain Virat Kohli is not fit enough to play the fourth Test against Australia in Dharamsala and misses the series-deciding match. Ajinkya Rahane is leading India in Kohli’s place. The four-Test series is tied 1-1 going into the final match.

This will be a huge blow to India, regardless of Kohli’s form, which has been rather poor in this series – 46 runs in five innings. But it might just put all the focus back on the cricket, which has not happened so far in this series because of numerous controversies, mostly involving Kohli.

It also puts the focus and pressure on the rest of the Indian team. How will they adapt and make do without their captain? Kohli’s absence puts the pressure on Cheteshwar Pujara to lead India’s batting line-up, especially considering India are a batsman short in this match. Kuldeep Yadav, the chinaman bowler, is Kohli’s replacement in the team, while swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes in for Ishant Sharma. Have they taken a gamble by sacrificing a batsman for an extra bowler?

Live updates

16.30 pm: And that is close of play. Ind 0-0. What a wonderful day of Test cricket and at the end of it, India will be smiling. Hazlewood got good bounce off the deck but that will be something India will have to contend with on Day 2. For now, their job is done. Kohli will be proud of his boys and of the manner in which Rahane has marshalled them.

16.17 pm: WICKET! Aus 300 all out after 88.3 overs. Australia have been bowled out. Rather incredible when you consider that Australia were 144-1 at one point. Smith played a classic innings and he was supported by Warner and Wade but the star of the show was undoubtedly Kuldeep Yadav, who took 4-68 on debut.

India have to come out and play one over.

16.11 pm: WICKET! Aus 298/9 after 87.4 overs. Jadeja gets his first wicket of the day and the dangerous Wade has been sent back. The left-hander went in for the big sweep, missed it completely and the ball crashed into the off-stump.

Wade b Jadeja 57 (125b, 4x4, 1x6)

15.55 pm: Aus 283-8. Wade 50 off 113 balls. Splendid knock by Australian keeper. He has looked in no trouble whatsoever. The visitors are slowly edging towards 300 and they can owe it all to Wade.

15.44 pm: WICKET! Aus 269/8 after 79.3 overs. Shreyas Iyer was on the field as a sub but he’s already made a contribution. A superb direct hit from the deep has sent O’Keefe walking back.

15.27 pm: Aus 268/7 after 78 overs. Wade is playing a gem of a knock here. He has kept the scorecard moving and played with enough urgency to ensure that India can’t afford to take it easy. The game can quickly get away from the hosts. Wade and O’Keefe have put on 23 runs in 5.2 overs.

15.04 pm: WICKET! Aus 245/7 after 72.4 overs. Kuldeep gets another one. Super bowling. The wrong ‘un doing the trick again. He also beat Cummins in the air and got a simple caught and bowled chance, which he took with ease.

Cummins c & b Kuldeep Yadav 21 (40b 3x4 1x6)

15.00 pm: Aus 242/6 after 72 overs. The Cummins-Wade stand is already worth 32 runs — vital runs, when you consider just how this series has gone. As Saha keeps telling everyone, ‘we need one wicket, come on boys.’

14.50 pm: Aus 227/6 after 67 overs

Aggressive batting by Cummins and Wade. They have looked to take full toll of anything loose. That is their natural game and perhaps the best approach to take as well.

14.35 pm: We are back after the break. Will Australia attack or will India bowl them out rather quickly? Just what are we likely to see in the final session of Day 1? Aus 212/6 after 63 overs.

14.10 pm: And that folks in tea. 30 overs, 77 runs, 5 wickets. That session belonged to India and Kuldeep Yadav. A stunning turnaround after getting hammered all over the park in the first session. Australia have gone from From 144 for 1 to 208 for 6.

14.06 pm: WICKET! Steve Smith is walking back after scoring a wonderful 111 off 173. A few balls from Ashwin to Wade had been turning very sharply. Smith has observed that happening. But the one Ashwin bowled to Smith didn’t turn at all. It took the edge and Rahane at first slip, took a stunning catch once again. Australia 208 for 6.

Smith c Rahane b Ashwin 111 (173b, 14x4)

13.55 pm: The spell that got India back into the match has ended. Kuldeep Yadav has been given some rest, his bowling figures are 14-1-41-3. We now have Ravindra Jadeja from one end and Ashwin from the other. A good decision too. You don’t want the Aussies to get used to his variations.

13.48 pm: This session 23 overs, 63 runs and 4 wickets. India have stormed back into the match on the back of Kuldeep’s fine showing. Aus 194-5.

13.35 pm: HUNDRED FOR SMITH! 101 off 150 balls out of Australia’s total of 185. This has been a stunning innings. It is his 20th Test ton and 7th against India. There’s simply no stopping this man. The others have been troubled by Kuldeep but he is playing on a different pitch... different planet.

13.28 pm: 178/5. WICKET! Kuldeep is turning on the style now. Just one ball before the wicket, Maxwell decided to show the Chinaman bowler who is boss — he attacked and launched one to the boundary line. Kuldeep responded by giving one ball even more air and bowling a wrong ‘un. Maxwell didn’t pick it at all and the ball crashed into the off-stump. Brilliant bowling.

13.08 pm: 168/4. WICKET! What a ball by Kuldeep. That drifted and pitched wide of the off-stump, then spun in sharply to go between the bat and the pad. Handscomb has been clean bowled. Kuldeep has been the difference after lunch and he is clearly looking like an inspired choice. Three wickets for 37 in the post-lunch session for India — two for Kuldeep and one for Umesh.

Deepak Malik/ BCCI/ SPORTZPICS

13.01 pm: 167-3 after 44 overs. India have fought back well after the break. They have managed to keep the run-rate in check and look to be executing their plans well for now. Smith continues to look solid on 92 while Handscomb has been getting better with every outing.

12.40 pm: OUT! India have another wicket, and it’s the other Yadav who gets it. Umesh Yadav picks up his second wicket of the match, as Shaun Marsh gloves one down the leg-side straight to the keeper. Cheap way to get out. India fighting back in Dharamsala after lunch! Australia 153/3.

12.35 pm: An emotional moment for Kuldeep Yadav, getting his first Test wicket:

12.25 pm: Australia 144/2. There it is! Kuldeep Yadav gets his first Test wicket, and it’s of David Warner. The left-hander cuts the chinaman straight to Rahane at first slip and the stand-in India captain holds on. Warner gone for 56. Big moment for Kuldeep, and for India. Can they cash in on this break?

12.20 pm: We’re back after lunch, with the two Yadavs – Umesh and Kuldeep – beginning proceedings.

11.35 am: Kuldeep Yadav gets a bowl right before lunch, bringing some cheers around the HPCA Stadium. But India are unable to get another breakthrough before lunch, even as Warner reaches his half-century by late-cutting the chinaman for four. At lunch, Australia are at 131/1.

11.20 am: Australia 120/1. David Warner is in attack mode. He’s stepped down and hit Ashwin straight down the ground for six, then creamed Jadeja through the covers for four, and then cut Ashwin for four. He’s on 48(70).

11 am: Australia 89/1. Jadeja is into the attack after 20 overs. And immediately he gets a lot of turn. A leading edge from Smith goes wide of first slip and runs down to the third-man boundary. It could have been stopped, if not for some lazy fielding from Ashwin. Meanwhile, Smith has reached his half-century and keeps upping his Test average.

10.45 am: Australia 74/1. Ravi Ashwin has been brought into the attack, but he’s getting no help whatsoever from the pitch. Rahane is rotating his quicks at the other end. Still no Jadeja, though, or Kuldeep. The momentum is currently with Australia. India have lost all the advantage from the early wicket.

10.25 am: Australia 57/1. Warner and Smith have settled in now and are starting to pick up the run-rate. Australia’s 50 is up in the 10th over of the match. India look like they are just waiting for things to happen, and that approach could hurt them. Warner is now past 20, and he usually carries on once he gets past that mark. Ominous signs for the home team.

10.10 am: Australia 34/1. The ball has been changed after less than six overs! What’s left to see in this Test match?! And just as I type that, Virat Kohli comes out carrying drinks! Yes, this is all happening in Dharamsala.

9.55 am: Australia 21/1. Both Bhuvneshwar and Umesh are getting a lot of swing. The Australian batsmen are just about managing to survive. David Warner has not let go of his attacking instincts, looking to score off every available chance. Steve Smith is using his idiosyncratic shuffles to block out anything that comes his way. Good stuff, this!

9.40 am: Timberrrrrrrrrr! Whatte delivery! Umesh Yadav gets it to swing into the left-handed Renshaw, who can’t do anything to stop it from crashing into his woodwork. What a morning this is turning out to be! Australia 10/1.

9.30 am: We’re off in Dharamsala, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar starting proceedings. He would look to make the most of the conditions on the first day, where fast bowlers should get some purchase. First ball, he gets David Warner to nick and it’s dropped in the slips! Karun Nair drops David Warner on the first ball of the match! The ball was travelling at a fair notch, but what a start that would have been for India had he held on! That should have been held on.

9.10 am: Here are the two teams:

9 am: Steve Smith has won the toss, again, and Australia are batting first in Dharamsala. Smith says there is a little more grass on the surface than the other pitches in this series. Australia are also unchanged from the Ranchi Test.

Rahane says India would have batted first as well, but says the pitch should hold for 2-3 days. India are playing five bowlers, he confirms. Kuldeep Yadav comes in for Virat Kohli, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also gets a run in place of Ishant Sharma! Well, well!

8.50 am: Here’s chinaman Kuldeep Yadav receiving his Test cap from L Sivaramakrisnan:

So does this mean India will be playing with THREE spinners?? What has the Indian team seen in this pitch that others haven’t? This is how the pitch looks, by the way:

8.45 am: Looks like it’s not Shreyas Iyer, but spinner Kuldeep Yadav who will be making his debut.

8.40 am: Dharamsala is hosting its inaugural Test: