A limp first innings performance with the bat handed the hosts the upperhand as early as lunch on the second day in the series decider at VCA Stadium, but New Zealand's concerns ran deeper than that due to a back injury to Brendon McCullum.
McCullum overcame the discomfort to score a battling 40 in his side's 193 after they slumped to 51 for five on a shortened opening day due to a damp outfield.
India were in no mood to sympathise as openers Virender Sehwag, on 55 not out, and Gautam Gambhir, unbeaten on 31, put their heads together to take their team to 89 without loss at the break.
Sehwag was his irrepressible self, taking the long handle to fast bowlers Chris Martin and Tim Southee, who were both hit out of the attack after four overs each.
He reached 50 for the fourth time in five innings in this series in just 50 balls, hitting eight fours and a big six off spinner Daniel Vettori which sailed well over long on.
Gambhir, as per normal, was much more circumspect and survived an eventful first over at his level by new cap Andy McKay.
The left-arm quick had a good shout for leg before wicket turned down off his very first delivery when Australian umpire Simon Taufel gave Gambhir the benefit of a doubt to a ball which may have been going over the top.
Gambhir poked unconvincingly at the next ball which he edged along the ground through the slips and was then beaten outside the off stump by the fourth ball.
McCullum was sure to spend his lunch break on the team physiotherapist's table after he experienced back spasms when landing awkwardly during catching practice immediately before the toss yesterday.
That meant he was shuffled down the order to No 8, vacating the opener's role where he starred in the drawn second test at Hyderabad with a career best 225.
He was in obvious discomfort in reaching 34 not out by stumps and did not last long this morning despite moving more freely.
His injury has yet to be fully diagnosed although there are fears it may be disc related, which can be managed over the duration of this match but it will jeopardise his plans to contest the five-match one-day series which follows the third and last test.
After resuming with New Zealand at 148 for seven this morning, McCullum's innings ended when he flashed once too often outside off stump to present a catch behind the wicket off fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who ended with the fine figures of four for 43 off 18 overs.
Sharma also bowled McKay for five before Southee was the last man out, caught in the deep off spinner Pragyan Ojha for an entertaining 38 containing three sixes.
He had just carted Ojha over the long on fence when he attempted to repeat the stroke only to send the ball down the throat of Sehwag.
The only batting specialist to impress yesterday was Jesse Ryder, who made 59 despite the recurrence of a calf strain which originally flared during his century in the first test at Ahmedabad.
Ross Taylor made 20 but the remainder of the top order failed to dip into double figures on a pitch offering the bowlers encouragement with its bounce and carry.
There was also slow turn for the spinners, which will become more exaggerated as the match drags on.
