The Indian team once again failed to deliver a dominant batting performance at home as New Zealand bowlers bowled really well to give their team the upper hand by the end of the first day of the first Test at Kanpur.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that was looking good for batting. As expected India started well. KL Rahul and Murali Vijay added 42 runs for the opening partnership. Playing his first match at home, Rahul was looking impressive but his 39-ball 32 was cut short by Mitchell Santner’s faster delivery. But India looked on course for a big total when Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay added 112 runs for the second wicket. However, Pujara dismissal opened the floodgates and India lost their three main batsmen for only 55 runs. Pujara was dismissed on 62 when he failed to keep a drive grounded and gave an easy catch to the bowler. Virat Kohli once again failed with the bat and scored only 9. Murali Vijay was also dismissed soon after scoring 65.

Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin tried to steady the ship with a 52-run partnership but Santer struck once again to end the partnership. New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult then took three quick wickets to put India on the backfoot. By the end of the first day, India scored 291 for 9.

The late wickets have given the visitors a big advantage and their spinner Mitchell Santner admitted it while interacting with the media after the day’s play.

“We’re in a reasonably good position after pulling it back at the end with late wickets,” said the left-arm spinner who took 3 wickets.

India might not have got the score they were looking for but Indian batsman Murali Vijay, who was India’s top scorer with 65 runs, said that the hosts are in a good position. The opener said that the runs are enough to put pressure on the visitors.

“We think we are in a good position with runs on the board. We will be able to put pressure on them,” said Vijay.

Ravinder Jadeja and Umesh Yadav will start the proceedings with the bat on day 2.