India's bid to secure a face-saving win over Australia got off on the wrong foot after they lost two quick wickets in the 11 overs bowled on the rain-hit opening day of the fourth Test in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Early morning rain delayed the start till just before tea and continued in short spells through the day to allow just 49 minutes of play at the start of the final match of the series.
India, who won the toss for the first time in the series and elected to bat in overcast conditons, were reduced to 12-2 before captain Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar carried them to 22 without further loss when bad light halted play for the day.
Australia's new-ball pair of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie used the cloud cover and early life in the Wankhede stadium wicket to remove openers Virender Sehwag and debutant Gautam Gambhir.
McGrath clean-bowled Sehwag for eight with the last ball of his second over and then Gillespie trapped debutant Gambhir leg-before with the very next delivery.
Dravid, leading India in the absence of the injured Sourav Ganguly, was unbeaten at stumps on nine. Tendulkar was on two.
{{/usCountry}}Dravid, leading India in the absence of the injured Sourav Ganguly, was unbeaten at stumps on nine. Tendulkar was on two.
{{/usCountry}}The match holds only academic interest after Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series by winning the first Test at Bangalore and the third in Nagpur.