Had Virat Kohli been more alert when a catch came his way just before lunch, this test may well have been over last night.
Instead, when Brendon McCullum jabbed a Mohammed Shami delivery to Kohli's left at shoulder height at short mid on, the fielder casually stuck out one hand and spilled the chance.
Given that New Zealand were 78 for three at the time - and shortly after 94 for five - pivotal didn't seem the appropriate word to apply to the moment.
By stumps, however, it had assumed significant proportions. McCullum went on and on through the afternoon, found a conscientious ally in BJ Watling and the cumulative effect of the miss, and another by Ishant Sharma - a sharp return catch at 36 - plus the odd close shave means this test is very much still alive.
If India sat back and expected things to continue unravelling after Corey Anderson's weak dismissal just after lunch they were unprofessional. McCullum and Watling had other ideas.