Ashwin's top show against NZ top-order

Pressure can do wonders in cricket. It can also work funny.

VVS Laxman became 'very very special' for the world only after scoring 281 under intense pressure against the then world's best team, Australia, in 2000-01. Even the likes of Dean Jones or Mike Gatting only got recognition as best in the world after proving themselves on testing spinning tracks of India.

Call it new-age cricket or lack of interest in playing the longer format, the current crop of New Zealand batsmen seems to have lost the game in their minds more than on the field.

The way the Indian bowlers snatched control from New Zealand on the morning of Day 3 and now sight victory by scalping another four for 93 in their second innings at stumps on Day Four was perfect proof of that.

The biggest example of disinterest was the way New Zealand's most experienced player Ross Taylor failed to ground his bat even after comfortably putting his bat one-and-a-half feet inside the non-striker's end, eventually to be given run out.

This had happened after Taylor (17) looked to have settled down in the middle after some initial hiccups. He was fourth wicket to be back in the pavilion for the visitors, who have been set a huge target of 434 to win in a little more than four sessions of play.

To put it straight, Indian skipper Virat Kohli set visitors a monumental task, knowing well that this much score has never been achieved before in the history to win a Test. The target was 16 more than the highest ever chase to claim Test victory, 418 by the West Indies against Australia at St John's in 2003.

More the merrier 

Starting the day at 159/1, India waited for Rohit Sharma (68*) first and then Ravindra Jadeja to complete his fifty before declaring at 377/5 just before the tea.

This came after New Zealand spin trio had some strong start to the day to reduce the hosts to 252/4. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was particularly impressive in his 11-over spell, giving away 21 runs to claim Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane. Mark Craig got home team skipper Virat Kohli (18) out cheaply before Ish Sodhi dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for 78 to a catch at slip.

In reality, with India already ahead by 308 by this time, it was only to let Sharma a chance to somehow muster a few runs in his pocket. Jadeja joined Sharma in the middle to have fun, smashing a 58-ball 50* before Kohli made the declaration and tea was called.

There could be a debate whether the declaration came a bit late, especially knowing the weather prediction for moderate showers on the fifth and final day, but then "safety first" and knowing Black Caps' mindset on sub-continent wickets could well have been the reasons weighing on Kohli's mind too.

The way the Black Caps put up the resistance against India in the final session, there should not have been any doubt that the hosts are just six wickets from going 1-0 up in the series.

It's only Luke Ronchi (unbeaten 38) and Mitchell Santner (unbeaten 8) who have somehow stopped the slide for visitors after off-spinner R. Ashwin broke the backbone of Kiwi batting by taking three important wickets.

Ashwin, who took four in the first innings, played his new role of a bowling unit leader to perfection. With India playing the first Test with a bowler short, the Tamil Nadu's offie took the Kiwis' most important wicket – skipper Kane Williamson – for the second time in the match.

Incidentally, Williamson was Ashwin's 200th Test scalp in his 37th Test – becoming the second fastest in terms of Tests to the landmark, 1 Test shy of Australia's Clarrie Grimmett 80 years ago.