India vs New Zealand Highlights, 1st Test, Day 4: NZ 4/1 at stumps; need 280 runs to win in Kanpur

The highest run-chase in Kanpur is 83 in Tests, which means that New Zealand will now have to complete a record run-chase at this venue to beat India.

Needless to say, India will be needing a lot more than 85 to ensure a competitive target.

Cheteshwar Pujara departs. First wicket of the day goes to Jamieson! Pujara gloves it for wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. The umpire initially gives it not out but Blundell is convinced that Pujara had nicked it. Ultra edge shows spike as the ball goes past the glove.

Big wicket for New Zealand, Pujara's poor form continues.

India 32/2; lead by 81

Ajaz Patel replaces Tim Southee from the media end.

Mayank more confident against Jamieson in this over. An odd ball did keep low but the batter defends it confidently on the front-foot. India lead by 80.

Better lines and some movement from Tim Southee in his second over of the day. That is what he will be focussing on. - keeping it in and around the off-stump and get the ball to straighten a little. 

Mayank with a shaky start. Length ball from Jamieson and marginally outside-off; not too wide and Mayank is forced to play a front-foot defence shot but finds a thick outside edge. The ball keeps grounded, however. 3 runs from the over.

India 29/1 in 8 overs; lead by 78 runs

Poor lines to start with from Southee as well as he goes down the leg side for an easy two from Pujara, but the bowler makes a good comeback in the over, shifting his line near the fourth stump for the rest of the over. Pujara safely deals with all.

Mayank Agarwal finds a thick edge as the ball races towards third man for a second boundary. 9 runs off the first over of the day.

India 23/1 in 6 overs

The first four of the day comes from Cheteshwar Pujara. Glances it towards fine leg and India get the things rolling on Day 4.

India 18/1 in 5.2 overs

The players walk out on the field. Pujara and Mayank resume India's innings as the hosts hope to set a big target for New Zealand. Kyle Jamieson to begin proceedings for the visitors.

Alright, then. We're ready for the start of fourth day's play in Kanpur. Mayank Agarwal (4*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (9*) to resume for India.

“We stuck together very well. Bowling 140-150 overs on that pitch, it was going to be hard work. Everyone stood up, played their roles perfectly. Those rare odd balls were coming from the river end. From the other side, Axar got the ball to turn as well, but from the river end you can get some purchase off the pitch. It's about being in the moment, would love for teammates to go out and make a big score.”

Cracks are much wider but haven't opened as expected. As we saw earlier, there was more spin. The ball was keeping low and slowness on the pitch will make it difficult for the batters," Agarkar says.

“The ball will still swing early on but they need to bowl straight. The middle and middle to off-stump line will be key for bowlers. The only way back for New Zealand is to bowl India out within 150,” says Simon Doull.

With 32 wickets in just four Tests (one innings still remaining), Axar has made an incredible start to his Test career.

“I don’t know who said I am a white-ball player. Whenever I have played first-class cricket or for India A, I have performed well. I never thought that I was a white-ball player. It’s all about the mindset, whether you think of yourself as a white-ball or red-ball cricketer,” Axar said after the game on Day 3.

India legend Sunil Gavaskar had a very strong opinion on the Ashwin-Menon incident.

Ashwin's argument with Nitin Menon over his follow-through sparked controversy during Day 3 of the Test in Kanpur, with captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Rahul Dravid also being involved. Ashwin's tactics of bowling close to the stumps didn't sit well with umpire Nitin Menon, who argued that his follow-through might deny the non-striker a chance of an easy single.

“He has the book 'laws of cricket' in his other hand. He is so precise. He knows that he will get away with it. He knows that 'I will get away with that. I'm within the law. I am not wrong. I’ll give a tough time to the umpire’. Look, he is just so precise, with that line. He must have practiced that I am telling you,” Pathan said about the incident.

Alongside the spinners, substitute wicketkeeper KS Bharat produced a formidable outing on a challenging pitch. Take a look at the interaction between India's two most successful spinners on the day with the wicketkeeper.

Axar Patel picked his fifth five-wicket haul in only his fourth Test, and was delighted with his performance on Day 3 of the Test.'

“It's a dream start, in fact this is a dream within a dream start for me. It was a hard grind today. They didn't lose any wickets yesterday and the talk was to keep it tight, don't try for wickets every ball, just look to be patient. I was sticking to the basics and using the crease a bit.”

The right-hander is not the first-choice opener for the side but Mayank Agarwal has a great opportunity to cement his place as a back-up in the Indian squad. Mayank has remained inconsistent in the red-ball format over the past year. 

His last 50+ score in Tests came in Feburary 2020 against New Zealand in Wellington.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who remained unbeaten on 9 at the end of Day 3, will be carrying expectations as he walks out later today. The Indian no.3 has been a pale shadow of his past self this year, averaging only 31 in twelve Test matches.

Ajinkya Rahane, who would follow in the batting order at no.4, has had an even more inconsistent year (20.35 in 12 Tests)

The New Zealand speedster continued on his impressive run against India, as his wicket of Shubman Gill was his 50th in Test cricket – he also became the fastest to 50 wickets for New Zealand!

Jamieson has taken the most number of Test wickets against India as well (20).

New Zealand were dominant on the second day with a bright start, but the widening cracks and significantly lower bounce worked in India's favour throughout the third day of the Test. Ravichandran Ashwin drew first blood with the dismissal of Will Young on 89, and New Zealand could never recover from the early blow in first session as the batters continued to fall against spinners.

Axar Patel (5/62) and Ashwin (3/82) highlighted India's impressive bowling performance as the visitors were bowled out on 296, giving India a healthy 49-run cushion. Kyle Jamieson, then, struck the early wicket of Shubman Gill before the end of day's play as India reached 14/1.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 4 from Kanpur. Team India will be aiming to set up a strong target for New Zealand as the pitch continues to increasingly aid the spinners as the play goes by.