India-NZ 2nd Test: Kiwi pacers restrict hosts to 239/7 at stumps on Day 1

India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first on day one of the second Test against New Zealand at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Friday.

India ended day one of the second Test against New Zealand at 239 for seven at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Friday.

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry claimed three wickets, while Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara (87) and Ajinkya Rahane (77) struck fighting half-centuries on an intense day of cricket.

Returning New Zealand medium-pacer Matt Henry rattled India with his twin strikes to send openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay walking back to the pavilion. He later dismissed offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin leg before for his third wicket of the day.

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India made two changes, bringing in Shikhar Dhawan in place of Lokesh Rahul, who was ruled out of the remainder of the series because of a hamstring injury. Also Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes in for Umesh Yadav.

New Zealand suffered a setback on the morning of the Test after captain Kane Williamson was ruled out due to fever. Ross Taylor will lead the side against India.

“Tough to replace the skipper and the No. 2 batsman in the world and hopefully we can make use of first use of the pitch. He has had a bit of fever and he was still sick this morning. Would have been hard for him to play in this kind of heat,” said Taylor.

New Zealand also made two changes, bringing in Matt Henry in place of Henry Nicholls and Jeetan Patel replaces Ish Sodhi in the playing XI.

Playing XI

India: Dhawan, Vijay, Pujara, Kohli (c), Rahane, Rohit, Ashwin, Saha (wk), Jadeja, Shami, Bhuvi

New Zealand: Guptill, Latham, Nicholls, Taylor (c), Ronchi, Santner, Watling (wk), Patel, Wagner, Henry, Boult