Mitchell Santner troubles India on day one

New Zealand's left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner, claimed three wickets that helped his side restrict a strong India batting unit to 291 for 9 on day one of the first Test - India's 500th - that began in Kanpur on Thursday.

India's captain, Virat Kohli, won the toss and opted to bat first. KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, India's openers - got their side off to a bright start, with Rahul attacking Trent Boult, who over pitched frequently while trying to find the right length with the new ball. Rahul rushed to 26 off 35 balls against the seamers.

Kane Williamson, New Zealand's captain, turned to left-arm spinner, Santner, in the ninth over and the move paid dividends, as Rahul feathered an edge to the keeper. Cheteshwar Pujara and Vijay added 112 runs for the second wicket and guided their side to lunch at 105 for one.

The duo added 49 in the post-lunch session, before Santner darted one in on middle and leg and Pujara miscued his straight drive, back to the bowler for 62. India looked to their captain, Kolhi, to add stability to the innings, but New Zealand's bowlers kept attacking the stumps.

The ploy paid off and the hosts suffered a middle-order collapse, as Vijay, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane added just 42 runs between them. In the 64th over, the hosts stood at 209 for 5. Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin added 52 runs for the sixth wicket, before Boult dismissed Ashwin for 40 and Santner, who attacked the stumps and troubled the batsmen with the straight delivery, claimed his third wicket of the innings by dismissing Sharma for a 67-ball 35.

Boult, with a less-than-impressive first two sessions, returned with figures of 3 for 57, which helped restrict India, who looked comfortable on 154 for 2 at one stage, to 291 for 9 at stumps on day one.

"The wicket was on the slower side, and so wanted to rotate strike, with their safe field as well. It wasn't turning as much," Vijay said. "Wicket got slower, and on day two with their footmarks our bowlers can play around a bit. It's a very good score, 20 runs short, but tomorrow morning if Jaddu gets it going, 320-330 would be a very good score. It would get lower moving forward. They have to play a waiting game, if they attack, we will have the upper hand"