India vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1: Kiwis in driver's seat after reducing Virat Kohli & Co. to 291

New Delhi: Despite Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay's fifties, the Indians failed to seize the advantage on Day 1 of the Kanpur Test.

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Over 90 | Score 291/9 (Jadeja 16*, Yadav 8*)

India ended the day on a disappointing note. After the Kiwis broke the Sharma-Ashwin stand, the tail failed to provide any resistance. Bolt's inspired burst towards the end of the day could prove to be a game-changing one.

R Ashwin c Taylor b Boult 40 (76b)

Mohammed Shami b Boult 0 (2b)

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Over 85 | Score 269/7 (Jadeja 6*, Ashwin 36*)

Under-fire Sharma failed to convert his start yet again. The right-hander will be gutted with his choice of shot. Skipper Kohli was clearly distraught, as Rohit walked back to the pavilion. Saha become Bolt's first victim of the day. The right-hander was cleaned up the pacer.

W Saha b Boult 0 (2b)

R Sharma c Sodhi b Santner 35 (67b)

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Over 81 | Score 259/5 (Sharma 35*, Ashwin 33*)

Ashwin and Sharma brought up their fifty-run stand. Both batted sensibly and steered India out of a tricky situation. Their job however is far from being complete. Virat will hope for the two to carry India safely to the end of play today.

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Over 75 | Score 232/5 (Sharma 25*, Ashwin 20*)

While Rohit looked cautious, Ashwin played with confidence. The Mumbai batsman is under tremendous pressure,while the off-spinner scored two tons in West Indies and is in fine form.

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Over 70 | Score 218/5 (Sharma 22*, Ashwin 5*)

There was a close lbw appeal against Rohit Sharma by Mark Craig. That was rejected by the umpire as the Mumbai batsman was looking to sweep the ball and thus his pad was quite far from the stumps. India need a decent partnership from these two batsmen.  

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Over 65 | Score 210/5 (Sharma 19*, Ashwin 0*)

Rahane was the fifth batsman to be dismissed as he hit one towards short leg off off-spinner Mark Craig. Rohit Sharma has shown some positive intent so far as he had already hit two boundaries and a six. R Ashwin is the next man in and like he did in the Caribbean, expectations would be high from him as a batsman now. Kane Williamson would be delighted the way his spinners have performed so far.

AM Rahane c Latham b Craig 18 (36b)

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Over 59 | Score 185/4 (Rahane 12*, Sharma 0*)

TEA: India lost another key wicket when Murali vijay departed just at the stroke of lunch. Ish Sodhi bagged his first wicket of the series as he moved one away from the right-hander, who edged it to the keeper. Vijay would be very disappointed with that shot. Rahane is still unbeaten on 12 and he is known to take India out of precarious circumstances. To give him company is Rohit Sharma, who has been retained in the Test squad despite frequent failures.

After a poor first session, Kiwis have bounced back by picking three key wickets in the second session.

M Vijay c Watling b Sodhi 65 (170b)

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Over 52| Score 168/3 (Vijay 59*, Rahane 3*)

Cheteshwar Pujara failed to convert another good start into a big total after he returned a catch to Mitchell Santner off his own bowling. Virat Kohli was the next man in, but after hitting two boundaries, he holed a bouncer from Wagner straight towards deep square leg. India were 154/1 at one stage and they have now lost two key wickets. Ajinkya Rahane is the new man in and once again the onus is now on him to get India out of this tough phase.

V Kohli c Sodhi b Wagner 9 (10b)

CA Pujara c & b Santner 62 (109b)

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Over 47 | Score 149/1 (Vijay 52*, Pujara 60*)

These two have so far added 102 runs for the second wicket. Now with their eyes, set, it could be a long and tiring day for the Kiwis on the field. The body language is dropping and considering the fact that it's just the first day of the Test match, Kane Williamson and his men need to regroup and dismiss at least one of these batsmen.

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Over 41 | Score 137/1 (Vijay 51*, Pujara 50*)

Murali Vijay completed his fifty in the 40th over and Pujara followed it with his fifty in the next over. They are now five-run short of adding a 100-run stand for the third wicket.

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Over 35 | Score 114/1 (Vijay 43*, Pujara 39*)

New Zealand's wait for second wicket continues. Both the players are playing sensibly, where they have kept the scoreboard ticking without taking too many risks. Williamson might fall short of plans soon, unless one of his bowlers strikes soon.

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Over 31 | Score 105/1 (Vijay 39*, Pujara 34*)

Vijay guided a ball towards third man to bring India's 100 runs. Kiwis will have to strike back as both Vijay and Pujara are looking all set to play big knocks here. The first session belonged to India and the visitors definitely have a tough task ahead.

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Over 26 | Score 89/1 (Vijay 34*, Pujara 23*)

Vijay and Pujara continue to swell the stand for the second wicket. It will be a test of patience for the Kiwi squad as these two are known to block plenty of deliveries. The match will also be a learning experience for the spin troika, since they all are new to international cricket.

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Over 21 | Score 69/1 (Vijay 25*, Pujara 12*)

Vijay and Pujara are two of the most technically sound batsmen in the current set up. While the Kiwi spinners continue to stick with a disciplined line, these two have made sure that no more damage is done.

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Over 16 | Score 53/1 (Vijay 16*, Pujara 5*)

After Santner's success, off-spinner Mark Craig was also introduced into the attack. Both the spinners have stuck to a good line and length.  

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Over 11 | Score 42/1 (Vijay 10*)

Mitchell Santner was introduced into the attack in the second over and he didn't take long to strike as Lokesh Rahul perished after edging one to Watling. In the same over, Rahul had played a brilliant slog-sweep for a six over deep midwicket. Cheteshwar Pujara is the new man in. India need a partnership here. Kane Williamson would be delighted after getting an early breakthrough.

KL Rahul c Watling b Santner 32 (39b)

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Over 5 | Score 13/0 (Rahul 11*, Vijay 2*)

After Boult, another left-arm seamer Neil Wagner joined him from the other end. There was a big appeal made by Boult against Rahul in his second over, but an inside edge saved him. The two pacers are showing a lot of variation but have failed to trouble the Indian openers so far.

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Over 1 | Score 8/0 (Rahul 8*, Vijay 0*)

Trent Boult opened the proceedings for New Zealand while Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay opened the innings for India. Lokesh Rahul, who has been in sublime form lately, got off the mark with an elegant straight drive off the second ball of the innings. Fourth ball of the first over was pitched full again and Rahul handsomely drove it through covers for another boundary.  

 

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India playing XI: M Vijay, L Rahul, C Pujara, V Kohli (c), A Rahane, R Sharma, R Ashwin, W Saha (wk), R Jadeja, M Shami, U Yadav

New Zealand playing XI: T Latham, M Guptill, K Williamson (c), R Taylor, L Ronchi, M Santner, BJ Watling (wk), M Craig, I Sodhi, T Boult, N Wagner

TOSS: India have won the toss and Virat Kohli has decided to bat first.

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Visuals from earlier in the day - Indian team heads to the stadium from hotel.

And they are off. Time for the #500thTest to unfold in a bit #TeamIndia @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/wLzjUkOmSR — BCCI (@BCCI) September 22, 2016

The Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team is expected to dominate the visiting New Zealand by revelling in home conditions in its historic 500th Test match, which will herald the beginning of a long 13-match home season.