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Kanpur: India stutter at 291 for 9 at stump on opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at Green Park, Kanpur on Thursday.
New Zealand bowlers make merry as Boult, Santner finish with three apiece after toiling hard in the morning session
Kohli, went on to win the toss in India's 500th Test match and opted to bat, and within an hour of play it was evident that underneath the green surface was a typical Indian Day 1 batting track.
Indian batsmen made the most of it in the first session, but let the advantage slip later on.
New Zealand mounted a superb comeback lead by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (3-77) and pacer Trent Boult (3-57) to restrict India to 291 for nine at close of play on Day 1.
India were always the favourites going in to the match, but day one proceeding exemplified why New Zealand consistently punch above their weight.
Kane Williamson was at the forefront with smart bowling changes and tactical decisions and the confidence he and coach Mike Hesson showed on their spin trio of Santner, Ish Sodhi (1/50) and Mark Craig (1/59) paid rich dividends.
Santner varied his length superbly and kept the Indian batsmen guessing while Craig stuck to the strategy of tossing the ball up and stifled the Indian run-rate for a brief while. Boult then wiped out the tail with the new ball in no time.
The spinners shared five of the nine Indian wickets to fall between them, with the big wicket of Kohli claimed by pacer Neil Wagner (1/42).
Cheteswar Pujara and Murali Vijay had done well to build on the brisk start provided by KL Rahul (32) and took India in to lunch at 105 for 1. The duo took minimal risk yet managed a partnership of 63 runs in 20 overs in the first session.
Vijay was sure footed as ever and pounced on anything short scoring his 7th Test fifty. Pujara, on the back of a good Duleep Trophy performance, was uncharacteristically brisk and played with intent to take five boundaries en route to 62 off 109 balls. The duo combined for a 112-run stand.
Later, Rohit Sharma and Ashwin then got together for 52-run stand, but once again Santner got in to the act with the wicket of Rohit. The Mumbai batsman threw away his good start with a lazy chip towards mid-on and departed for 35.
With the new ball taken, it did not take Boult to make his mark and he first castled Wriddiman Saha for a duck and had Ashwin caught at slip for 40. He then proceeded to take his third wicket in the form of Mohammad Shami (0).
Ravindra Jadeja (11*) and Umesh Yadav (8*) then saw off the day without much trouble.
Brief scores
India - 291/9 (Vijay 65, Pujara 62, Boult 3-57, Santner 3-77)
