"They humbled India": Blackcaps make desperately needed statement with historic day-two domination in Bengaluru

The Blackcaps have sent shockwaves through the cricketing world with their remarkable efforts on day two of the first Test against India, restricting the hosts to their lowest ever total on home soil.

The NZ seam attack - spearheaded by Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke - had a field day in the overcast conditions in Bengaluru, taking advantage of the moisture build from multiple days of pitch coverage to wreak havoc on the vaunted batting order to roll them for just 46 runs - their third lowest total ever.

The Blackcaps batters backed that up with plenty of positive intent, as Devon Conway led the charge with a fearless 91 off 105 balls to see the tourists through to 180/3 - an overall lead of 134.

Given the narrative heading into the series on the back of the Blackcaps' struggles in Sri Lanka, Scotty Stevenson says that stellar display was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Kiwis to regain some respect - both with India and the game's powerbrokers.

"The credibility this gives them as a team is huge," Stevenson said on SENZ's Scotty & Izzy.

"They chucked us in at the end of the rainy season, crowbarring New Zealand down because they're not Australia, they're not England, they're not one of the powerhouse Test nations in terms of revenue generation.

"But they've gone over there and they humbled India and that counts for something in the world of Test match cricket, especially given the control that India exerts over the game."

It turned out to be a great toss to lose for Tom Latham, who admitted he also would've batted first, when the NZ paceman immediately had the ball hooping and the Indian batters bamboozled.

Henry's 5/15 in just 13.2 overs was the lowest runs conceded for a five-wicket bag in NZ Test history, O'Rourke was immense in his haul of 4/22, and the embattled Tim Southee - freed of the captaincy - shunned his nose at the critics with an excellent - albeit brief - shift holding down the other end, cleaning out Rohit Sharma with arguably the delivery of the day.

But perhaps the most heartening for the Blackcaps and their fans was the form of Devon Conway, who - after a lengthy slump - continued the momentum from his 61 in his last outing in Galle with a confident, rapid-fire knock to ensure the pressure remained firmly on the Indians.

His 91 included two mammoth sixes, exhibiting the kind of strokeplay that saw him take the cricket world by storm just a couple of years ago.

His innings denied India any sniff of any early hope, and the pace was almost as critical given the impact rain has already had - and likely will continue to have - on the match.

Devon came in and needed runs for his own confidence, but he also struck it at a strike rate of 86," Stevenson added.

"I think New Zealand might have been quite happy to sit there and think, 'well, we rolled them for 46, let's just go out there and do our thing'.

"But there was some real impetus and that earnings from Devon Conway, because they need to score quickly, they need to build a lead.

"Now given the weather is around, given India are not going to be rolled for 46 again - not at home, no chance - you have to have a very big lead indeed."

The Blackcaps will resume day three with Rachin Ravindra (22) and Daryl Mitchell (14) at the crease.

Catch ball-by-ball coverage of the Blackcaps' Test tour of India via the SENZ app or discover your local SENZ frequency here.

Listen to the full 'Out the Blocks' below: