(Cricket news) After winning the toss and electing to bat first, India end day 1 of the 1st Test at 258/4. The day was called off early due to bad light. The pitch at Green Park in Kanpur usually assists the spinners heavily but surprisingly, all the four wickets were taken between the two seamers. New Zealand's spin trio of Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra and Will Sommerville bowled a total of 52 overs in the day but failed to pick up a wicket. 

India had a very shaky start as Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson were getting a bit of movement. Indian openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill had contrasting problems. While Agarwal was caught fishing outside the off stump with some plays and misses; Gill had trouble dealing with the ball coming back into him. Mayank Agarwal's struggle ended shortly as Kyle Jamieson outswinger managed to tickle his willow and fall straight into the gloves of Tom Blundell. 

Gill started playing the ball better after settling in. Pujara came in and steadied the ship. Ajaz Patel trapped Shubman Gill in front but left it after a half hearted appeal which the replays showed was clearly hitting middle stump. Shubman Gill eventually reached 52 before Jamieson knocked over all his stumps just after lunch. Southee came in moments later to get rid of Pujara who once again tried to defend a ball on the fourth stump line and edged it straight to the keeper.

Also read: Don't see Paine's inclusion in Ashes playing XI as distraction: Lyon

Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and debutant Shreyas Iyer, who are potentially each other's competition, stitched together a partnership. Given out caught behind off Jamieson, Rahane was saved by DRS but couldn't profit as he played the very next delivery onto the stumps at 35. Ravindra Jadeja came out ahead of Wriddhiman Saha. Both Iyer and Jadeja put together 113 runs and scored half centuries. 

Iyer was very careful in the initial stages. After a few mistimed slogs, he steadied himself and started rotating the strike. He then started to go after Rachin Ravindra and got rewarded. India didn't lose a single wicket in the last session and are in a good position with Iyer on 75* and Jadeja on 50* with Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel yet to come. 

Kane Williamson will need to operate his bowlers better. The spinners not getting a wicket throughout the day on typical subcontinental conditions is not a good sign for the black caps. The lead Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel often missed his line and length and there was a point just before the 2nd new ball was due when he was continuously bowling down the leg side before the umpires gave a warning to the skipper that they will have to start calling it wides. India will be looking at 500 plus from this position with two set batters at the crease and two handy batters two come.