A patient 71 not out from Misbah-ul-haq rescued Pakistan from disaster after three wickets from Anil Kumble, the new India captain, had left them tottering at 142-8.

Misbah put on 68 with Mohammad Sami (20 not out) to limited the damage for Pakistan, who finished day one of the first Test on 210 for eight in New Delhi.

Misbah, playing only his eighth test, hit his maiden test fifty before play was stopped due to bad light.

That was in stark contrast to the rest of the day, thanks in part to Kumble, who returned three for 38 off his 20 overs on his debut as India skipper.

Pakistan lost two early wickets when Zaheer Khan (two for 36) broke through the top order. Salman Butt was bowled by an inswinger, and Younus Khan contributed just seven before mistiming a short ball to Munaf Patel at fine leg.

Kumble then got in on the act by bowling Yasir Hameed with a googly.

The dismissals of Mohammad Yousuf, lbw to Sourav Ganguly, and captain Shoaib Malik for a duck - via a regulation outside edge through to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Munaf Patel - strengthened India's stranglehold.

Only Misbah put up any kind of resistance, with Kamran Akmal bowled between bat and pad by Kumble. Harbhajan Singh had Sohail Tanvir lbw, and Shoaib Akhtar was bowled when he heaved wildly at Kumble.

After tea, Misbah hit one enormous six off Harbhajan in an innings otherwise characterised by patience and deftness as Pakistan endured the final session without losing a wicket.