A sparkling century to runaholic Virender Sehwag enabled India to steal all the credit by tea on the opening day of the first test at Sardar Patel Stadium.
Sehwag unleashed a blistering attack to score an unbeaten 152 off just 172 balls. India was 243 for one by the end of the second session after the skipper, MS Dhoni, won the toss and surprised no-one by choosing to make first use of what New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori had described as an "incredibly flat" pitch.
He and Rahul Dravid could not be parted during the session as their second-wicket partnership grew to 183 after New Zealand failed to grasp two chances to separate them.
The New Zealand players may well have felt like the surface looked and acted after Sehwag single-handedly snatched the initiative with his 22nd test hundred, drenched in thick coatings of crisp drives into the off side and trademark cuts behind point.
As his innings progressed and his authority grew, Sehwag widened his scoring ambitions, taking in both sides of the wicket as the touring side struggled to stem the flow.
But New Zealand rued a missed opportunity with Sehwag on 144 when spinner Jeetan Patel shelled a caught-and-bowled chance off a solidly-struck drive.
The New Zealand bowlers were neutralised through a combination of his exquisite strokeplay and an unforgiving pitch offering not even a hint of assistance, and 32-year-old Sehwag's dominance was reflected in a century stand for the second wicket to which Dravid contributed just 17 runs.
Battling for form after a lean spell this year, Dravid gave his best impression of a statue, struggling to get his feet moving and lacking timing.
He later started to find his touch to reach 61 not out, keeping Sehwag company as the explosive opener reached his century off 111 balls with a lofted drive over mid off not long after he had disposed of the same bowler, spinner Vettori, over long on.
Dravid had one piece of good fortune on 28 when wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins failed to grasp a difficult, feathered chance near his boot laces when standing up to medium-pacer Jesse Ryder.
But even chances were hard to come by for the New Zealanders, who entered the match with new caps Hamish Bennett and Kane Williamson in their playing 11.
They were on the back foot from the outset as Sehwag took to opening bowler Chris Martin, who was relieved of his duties after his first four overs leaked 24 runs.
Newcomer Bennett proved more difficult to get hold of, but he had the benefit of mostly bowling to Gautam Gambhir, who survived a good shout for leg before wicket in the fourth over before he had scored.
Another debutant, Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena, turned down Bennett's pleas by rightly giving Gambhir the benefit of the doubt as the ball looked on line but a touch high.
Vettori dragged Martin out of the attack early to save him further punishment and employed his own left-arm spin from just the ninth over.
Bennett completed his first spell on the test stage with none for 19 from five overs before Vettori turned to part-timer Ryder, which proved to be an inspired choice.
Ryder shocked Gambhir, the Indian dressing room and his own colleagues by sneaking a ball between bat and pad to bowl Gambhir for 21, with the Indians 60 for one in the 12th over.
Martin was far from alone at attracting Sehwag's disdain, though, with Ryder going for 21 off three.
Patel was another to feel the heat as Sehwag peppered the boundary leading up to the lunch adjournment.
He continued in the same vein after lunch, too, much to the annoyance and frustration of the New Zealanders.
