SK Play of the day: New Zealand script supreme turnaround

India won the toss and elected to bat. The new opening combination of Murali Vijay and KL Rahul had no problem in getting the hosts off to a brisk start. So brisk, in fact, that KL hit two fours of the very first over, one dispatched down the ground and the other through the overs.

For the next 10 overs, India were batting at over 4 runs over until KL Rahul nicked one behind to BJ Watling from Santner. Out walked an in-form Cheteshwar Pujara who middled the very first ball he faced. He would proceed to cut and drive and pull the ball at will to take India's score further upwards.

At the other end, Murali Vijay cut a resolute figure. He rarely looked fazed as he left the ball at will and only played the strokes that he really had to. Together, the two of them took India to 105/1 at the end of the first session.

The New Zealand bowlers looked rather flat. While the pacers were dealt with ease and punished, the spinners did not generate any purchase early on the first day. Kane Williamson introduced spin as early as the 9th over of the game. It was spin that would prove to give the Kiwis their only moment of joy early on with KL Rahul's wicket.

The turnaround

Post lunch, it was more of the same for the Indians. The pair went on their merry way, looking very comfortable at the crease as they took India's score past the 150 mark. Both the batsmen raised their bats after registering half-centuries and they also managed a 100 run partnership.

With less than 12 overs to go for lunch, New Zealand switched on.

Cheteshwar Pujara

Santner was bowling the 49th over of the game as Cheteshwar Pujara looked to be on his way to another century. On the 5th ball of the over, Santner bowled it at a good length, Pujara came front and looked to work it on the leg-side as he had done on many occasions in the game.

This time around, he never really got to the pitch of the ball, the bat turned in his hand and he hit it straight back to Santner who was more than willing to complete an easy catch.

Virat Kohli

India's captain Virat Kohli walked out at #4 amidst a lot of excitement in the ground with a number of fans on the ground going berserk upon his arrival. He took little time to show he meant business, executing a near-perfect square cut to get off the mark.

The ball was with Neil Wagner in the 52nd over. The left-arm pacer had worked tirelessly and got his reward. He bowled a couple of short balls to Kohli, it was a clear plan from the Kiwis as they were aware of the fact that Kohli isn't afraid to go after the short ball.

That was exactly what happened. He attempted to pull a short one, didn't connect properly and the ball landed down the throat of Ish Sodhi at fine leg.

Murali Vijay

Things had appeared to calm down as Ajinkya Rahane had joined Murali Vijay at the middle. Vijay looked good to soldier on towards his century, while Rahane has been in imperious form lately. They were going to carry India to the tea session without further damage.

Just before lunch, in the 59th over, Ish Sodhi had the ball. He bowled a slightly quicker one outside off, it skidded on and as Vijay looked to cut it, it took a faint edge and BJ Watling took a super catch behind the stumps.

Summary

10.3 overs. 31 runs. 40 minutes. That was all it took to change the complexion of the match around. While India looked to be in command at the end of the first session, the Kiwis were looking at two fresh batsmen to bowl at during the tea session.

After tea, the Kiwis came running in with their tails up to take a further 5 wickets and inflict further damage on the Indians.

It was that half-hour spell before tea that has made the difference between what looked like a 400 plus total to now what looks to be a 300 total with India at 288 - 9 at the end of day 1.

The Kiwis are very much in the game as the first Test hangs in the balance. Their bowlers reigned supreme on day 1, it's upto their batsman now.