Day one belonged solely to India - their bowlers whittling out New Zealand for 192 and then the batsmen coming out, showing some aggression and taking their side to a rather comfortable 100 for two at the close of play.
Where to Watch Live
The second day is scheduled for a 11 am local time (3.30 am IST) start with live coverage on Sony Six HD and Sony Six in India. The match can also be watched through live streaming online in India HERE. Viewers in the US can live stream the action HERE, while New Zealand viewers can go HERE. Catch the action in the UK courtesy live streaming HERE, while the match can be live streamed in Africa HERE.
Day 2 needs to be more of the same as well for India, if they are to level the two-match Test series. With greenery very much the order of the day on the Basin Reserve pitch, India won a crucial toss to put New Zealand in to bat, with Ishant Sharma picking up six wickets to lead the bowlers' charge.
In reply, Shikhar Dhawan went at the New Zealand bowlers from the off, not letting them settle, and with it helping himself to an unbeaten 71 from just 87 balls, with the Kiwis picking up the wickets of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, the latter's wicket coming near the end of the day's play.
New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson, who has scored runs for fun against India during this tour, was again the home side's mainstay, scoring 47, and the 23-year-old felt the reason for his side's failings with the bat was primarily down to good bowling from India.
"They bowled very well," he said. "They sort of picked up where they left off in Auckland. Credit goes to their bowling attack but it would have been nice to scrape a few more but saying that, there's still plenty in the wicket, so if we bowl well, we can restrict them.
"I think looking at it, you probably expected it to be tough. We played on a green one before against West Indies, as green, but they didn't bowl as well as the Indian side, they bowled very short. It was hard to compare but yes, it was tough, the nature of the surface, the quality of bowling.
"It sort of seamed around a bit and they got the ball to swing nicely. It was a good challenge for the batting unit and we will have to try and apply that same pressure with the ball tomorrow."
The pitch is expected to ease off on Day 2 and three, and much will depend on whether India can make full use of the early advantage - bat New Zealand out of the game, and then ask your bowlers to finish the opposition off a second time...at least that will be the idea.
