A combination of uneven bounce and some incisive fast bowling from New Zealand's pacers left India at 110/6 at the end of the second session. It is still Virat Kohli's game to lose though as the lead has already touched 222 and it will be very difficult for the Kiwis to mount a strong chase, considering the nature of this Eden Gardens surface on Day 3.
With the ball nipping and bouncing at uncomfortable heights, Mark Henry took out Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara before Trent Boult accounted for Shikhar Dhawan in a fiery burst of fast bowling. Ajinkya Rahane was the next to depart, misjudging the bounce while looking to play a pull and only managing to top-edge a catch. This brought out Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma at the crease with India at an uncomfortable 43/4.
The Kiwi pacers persisted with their short leg-stump line to Kohli but the Indian captain looked well up to the task, playing some trademark drives to get the runs ticking. Sharma hit Jeetan Patel for a six as well but just when it looked like India had forged a recovery of sorts, a Boult delivery bounced awkwardly low after pitching and hit Kohli on his front shin when he was on 45.
There was more consternation for India as Mitchell Santer got into the act as well, having Ravichandran Ashwin out leg-before-wicket just before the tea break.
Brief scores:
India 316 and 110/6 (Virat Kohli 45, Rohit Sharma 20 not out; Matt Henry 3/34) lead New Zealand 204 by 222 runs