New Zealand dismissed India for 156 and led the second test by 301 runs by the end of day two Friday.
After spinner Mitchell Santner took 7-53 — his maiden test five-for — to bundle out India after lunch, skipper Tom Latham led the batting effort with 86 for New Zealand to reach 198-5 at stumps.
India hasn't lost a home test series since 2012 to England. But its incredible run of 18 successive home series wins was under threat from the Black Caps. Their win in Bengaluru last weekend was their first in India in 36 years. They have never won a series in India.
“To put ourselves in a position to potentially win a test was cool,” Santner said. “The batters did well, wasn't easy, and building the partnerships was key.”
India off-spinner Washington Sundar, who took a career-best 7-59 in the first innings, had 4-56 in the second and his first 10-wicket haul in tests.
India, replying to New Zealand's first total of 259, started the day at 16-1.
Santner collected 4-36 in 10 overs and off-spinner Glenn Phillips grabbed 2-26 in the morning as India collapsed to 107-7 by lunch.
“Just watched Washy (Sundar) and that looked cool, so I thought, ‘Will do that,’” Santner said.
India made good progress in the beginning. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were aggressive and shared 49 runs. But they were pushed back when Santner came on to bowl.
With Ajaz Patel bowling at the other end, the momentum shifted in New Zealand's favor and the batters looked under pressure.
Santner broke through when he got Gill lbw in the 22nd over for 30 runs off 72 balls.
Virat Kohli then scored one run off nine balls and failed to pick a Santner full toss drifting in, and was bowled.
Jaiswal gave Phillips an outside edge on 30, and Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 150 in Bengaluru, chipped Santner over mid-off but was caught for 11.
Santner also trapped Ravichandran Ashwin (4) before lunch with the ball again staying low.
After lunch, Ravindra Jadeja came out swinging for 38 off 46 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Jadeja survived a close call when the umpire and Santner failed to detect an inside edge for a caught dismissal, but he was out lbw shortly and the spinner had his five-for.
Santner then went on to bowl Akash Deep (6) and trap Jasprit Bumrah (0) lbw. His 7-53 was the second best bowling figures in India after Ajaz Patel's 10-119 in 2021 in Mumbai.
India's third batting collapse in this series and fourth in four tests left it trailing by 103 runs on the first innings.
Latham scored 86 off 133 balls, including 10 boundaries, anchoring New Zealand while it was reduced to 89-3.
Sundar trapped Devon Conway for 17, bowled Rachin Ravindra for 9, and dismissed Daryl Mitchell on 18 for his 10-wicket match haul, while Ravichandran Ashwin got Will Young lbw on 23.
Latham and Tom Blundell rebuilt the innings with a 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket that put New Zealand back in a commanding position.
Their stand was broken by Sundar when Latham swept and missed and was struck on the pad.
Batting at stumps were Blundell, 30 not out, and Phillips, 9 not out.