"I've never seen a wicket on which the ball turns so much, even on television," Hauritz told reporters after taking three wickets for 16 on his Australia debut.

"There was big turn out there."

Hauritz, who played instead of the injured Shane Warne, struck with his third ball in Test cricket as India collapsed to 104 all out in their first innings.

Conditions in Bombay were in sharp contrast to anything Hauritz had encountered back home, with the ball skidding and turning sharply off a length.

On Australia's quick pitches, spinners rely more on bounce than turn to surprise batsmen.

There was another surprise in store for Hauritz in the evening, when skipper Ricky Ponting asked him to share the new ball in India's second innings.

"I would have never thought I'd open the bowling for Australia in my first Test match, that too with someone like Jason Gillespie tearing in from the other end," he said.

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India, who conceded a 99-run first innings lead, were five without loss after the second day.

Hauritz, 23, said his first wicket had helped calm his nerves.

The Queenslander dismissed Anil Kumble, caught at mid-off as the batsman tried to play a big shot.

He then dismissed Harbhajan Singh, caught at bad-pad, and had Murali Kartik glove to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

"I got a lot of confidence after picking up the early wicket. It's great to get three spinners out on a turning track in India. That's a special feeling."

Ponting will rely on Hauritz to make an even deeper mark on Friday as the pitch deteriorates.