India reached 105 for 1 at lunch on the first day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand, on Thursday.
India shrugged off the loss of opener Lokesh Rahul to reach 105 for one at lunch on the first day of the first test against New Zealand on Thursday.
Rather unsurprisingly, the only wicket to fall in the first session of India's 500th test went to a spinner with Mitchell Santner getting Rahul caught behind after a fluent 32.
Murali Vijay (39) and Cheteshwar Pujara (34) will return after the break looking to push on and justify skipper Virat Kohli's decision to bat first at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium.
Rahul's last three innings across all formats had yielded two centuries and a fifty and the right-hander, chosen ahead of Shikhar Dhawan, dominated his 42-run stand with fellow opener Vijay.
The 24-year-old hit four boundaries, and a six off Santner, before faintly edging to wicketkeeper BJ Watling in the left-arm spinner's second over, and just the 11th of the innings.
Off-spinner Mark Craig soon joined him as New Zealand unleashed spin from both ends even though boundaries kept flowing as Vijay and Pujara drove and cut with elan.
The tourists also picked Ish Sodhi in a three-pronged spin attack, who must deliver especially as New Zealand face the unenviable prospect of batting last on a pitch that has already seen turn.
India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat against a spin-heavy New Zealand in the first match of the three-test series at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium on Thursday.
Kohli's decision at the start of India's 500th test match leaves New Zealand with the unenviable prospect of batting in the fourth innings on a track expected to assist the slow bowlers from as early as the opening day.
Brief Scores: India 1st innings 105/1 in 31 overs (KL Rahul 32, M Vijay 39 batting, Cheteshwar Pujara 34 batting, Mitchell Santner 1/33) bs New Zealand.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Cricket, India v/s New Zealand, 500th Test, Mitchell Santner, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Kane Williams, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pua")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}