The start of the fourth Test match was marred by chaotic scenes, with the prime ministers of Australia and India partly to blame, according to reports. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australian captain Steve Smith and his team were forced outside the stadium for warm-ups due to an over-the-top ceremony featuring Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The prime ministers rode around the boundary in an automobile and then joined the teams for national anthems, after which chaos ensued, with the first over of the match being described as "shoddy" by commentators. The poor start was attributed to the teams not getting a feel for the game due to the bizarre start to the Test match.
