The Australian coach was locked in a tense discussion with match referee David Boon at the midway point of his side's 11-run loss to India in the opening Twenty20 international at Manuka Oval on Friday night.

The vision sent fans and pundits into a tailspin and it soon emerged Ravindra Jadeja, who batted on in the final over after being struck on the helmet by a Mitchell Starc delivery, had been substituted out of the game.

The sticking point was no Indian team doctor checked on Jadeja before play resumed in that final over, however it is understood the rules state he doesn't have to be checked until the end of that over in question.

What is clear is India have defended their total of 7-161, with Australia finishing on 7-150, with the visitors taking a 1-0 series lead.

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The ICC implemented a concussion policy on August 1 last year which states a concussed player will be substituted by a like-for-like replacement approved by the match referee.

Yuzvendra Chahal was drafted into India's XI for the second innings and played a starring role with the ball with 3-25, soon after Jadeja had lit up the Manuka sky with an unbeaten 44 (23), including 30 from his final 10 balls.

He did so despite a blow to the helmet and a leg injury which left him struggling to run, sparking a raft of conspiracy theories about the validity of his concussion on social media.

Australian captain Aaron Finch told Fox Cricket: "[Boon] was letting us know the doctor had ruled Jadeja out with a concussion, there's not much you can say to that, you're not challenging a medical expert in that regard are you?"

How Chahal would perform as a like for like replacement with the ball was a major source of intrigue, after Jadeja had been struck on the second ball of the final over.

Chahal was brought on to bowl the eighth over of Australia's innings with the hosts flying at 0-54, and he sent Aaron Finch (35) - who picked up a leg injury - packing with his fourth ball, before eventually picking up the prized scalp of Steve Smith for 12 and Matthew Wade (7).

"Obviously it's a great feeling, there was no expectation while we were batting," Chahal said on Fox Cricket.

"I felt no pressure. Ten to 15 minutes before I got the nod to play because of the rules. I came onto the ground and just pumped up myself.

"Obviously it's vital to take their wickets because they know the conditions very well. I bowled according to my plans."

It was a stunning way to breathe more life into the summer of cricket, which will need more spark when Virat Kohli departs after the first Test this month.

So often we wonder how Australia would shut down mercurial Indian batsman, and it was Mitchell Swepson with the answer.

Swepson wasn't even part of Australia's squad 48 hours prior to the opening ball - he was in Australia A's camp in Sydney.

But then the 27-year-old had Kohli caught and bowled for nine. He was rushed into camp when Ashton Agar suffered a calf injury, and now the man who waited more than two years for his second cap may play a key role as the series shifts to the SCG.

AT A GLANCE

First Twenty20 international: INDIA 7-161 (KL Rahul 51, Ravindra Jadeja 44*; Moises Henriques 3-22, Mitchell Starc 2-34) bt AUSTRALIA 7-150 (Aaron Finch 35, D'Arcy Short 34; Yuzvendra Chahal 3-25, T Natarajan 3-30) by 11 runs at Manuka Oval.