Australia captain Pat Cummins dismissed opposing skipper Rohit Sharma as India lost both their openers cheaply on the second day of the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Thursday.
India were 37-2 in reply to Australia's first-innings 469 at tea, with senior batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli at the crease.
Rohit had made a superb 127 against England at the Oval two years ago but on Thursday he was plumb lbw for 15 to a full-length ball from Cummins.
Four balls later India were 30-2 when Shubman Gill, fresh from the Indian Premier League, was bowled for 13 playing no shot to first-change Scott Boland after being deceived by a sharp off-cutter.
Earlier, Mohammed Siraj led an India fightback as they finally dismissed Australia centurions Travis Head and Steve Smith.
India were facing a potentially huge Australian first-innings total with Smith (121) and Head (163) at the crease.
But their pacemen struck as Australia lost four wickets for 41 runs, including Head and Smith, to slip from 361-3 to 402-7.
The WTC is the only major men's cricket trophy Australia have yet to win.