Mitchell Johnson rattled India and himself after the tourists made a cavalier start to their first innings in Adelaide.

Johnson bowled a ferocious over to Indian opener Murali Vijay before taking his wicket just before lunch on the third morning.

Australian players check on Virat Kohli after he was hit on the helmet by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer. Photo: Getty Images

He hit the right-hander on the shoulder, followed up with a bouncer that narrowly missed the helmet of the ducking Vijay then beat the outside edge.

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Vijay was caught behind for 53 in Johnson's next over, but it was the Australian left-armer's first ball to acting captain Virat Kohli that caused everyone at Adelaide Oval to catch their breath.

Kohli ducked into a bouncer and was hit hard on the helmet. After the initial gasp, the crowd fell silent. The Australians rushed to Kohli to see if he was OK, and he was.

Mitchell Johnson is congratulated after taking the wicket of Murali Vijay. Photo: Getty Images

Australian captain Michael Clarke and paceman Peter Siddle then went to comfort Johnson, Clarke gripping him on the shoulders. Johnson said before the series that he didn't know how he would feel when he hit a batsman for the first time after the death of Phillip Hughes.

Johnson held his nerve and carried on with a couple more short balls, and India were 2-119 at lunch with Cheteshwar Pujara on 34 and Kohli three.

Clarke declared the Australian innings on the overnight score of 7-517.

The Aussies celebrate the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. Photo: Getty Images

Ryan Harris, taking up where he left off before knee surgery, took the first wicket, bowling dangerous opener Shikhar Dhawan for a rapidly-scored 25.   

Dhawan's first Test innings in Australia was entertaining but short. He carved 14 from one Johnson over including an exquisite straight drive for four.

The left-armer was unlucky not to have Dhawan caught behind on one in the third over of the match. An inside edge sent Brad Haddin diving metres to his right but the wicketkeeper couldn't quite get his glove under the ball. 

Harris later swung the ball into the left-handed Dhawan and crashed it into his stumps. 

Vijay signalled his intention to attack the off spin of Nathan Lyon, launching him over mid-on for six and then four in one over. 

But Lyon would not have been discouraged. He gained substantial turn and the fielders close to the wicket were always in play. 

Peter Siddle was too straight in his first over but got back to building pressure thereafter. 

Clarke fielded at mid-on instead of the slips. As one would expect after making 128 with a crook back, bending was an effort for the captain but he dived like a teenager to save runs during the extended first session.