Auckland: New Zealand were skittled for 105 in their second innings but still set a target of 407 for India to win victory on day three of the first Test here.
The tourists will have more than two days to try to achieve what would be the third-highest successful run chase in Tests and the highest at Eden Park.
After the Black Caps claimed the last six Indian wickets in the morning session on day three to bowl out the opposition for 202 and lead by 301, they decided against enforcing the follow-on.
It was a decision that backfired as they lost four wickets in the half-hour they had to negotiate before lunch to be reduced to 4-15.
Wickets continued to fall regularly, with Ross Taylor, who scored 41, providing the only real resistance.
Seamers Mohammed Shami and Zaheer Khan did the main damage early on, keeping a tight line and being backed up by attacking fields.
Shami finished with 3-37, while Khan took 2-23.
Ishant Sharma, the pick of India's bowlers in the first innings with a six-wicket bag, cleaned up the three remaining wickets after tea to end with 3-28.
The highest fourth-innings Test total at Eden Park is the 5-348 the West Indies scored in securing victory in February 1969.
