Black Caps hopeful Ish Sodhi's willingness to learn quickly has reaped early reward on day two of New Zealand A's first-class match against India A.

Sodhi has enhanced his prospects with a five-wicket haul in Vijayawada after New Zealand A were bowled out for 147 in their first innings.

The Kiwis struggled to dismiss their Indian counterparts for 320 in reply, although Sodhi played a key role in returning figures of 5-94 off 22 overs.

Coach Mike Hesson will complete his initial nine-strong Black Caps squad for their tour of India beginning next month with six players from the New Zealand A team.

Sodhi isn't looking that far ahead, concentrating instead on building form quickly for the second-tier Kiwi team which will play another four-day match and five one-dayers in India.

"It's always good to start off a tour with some wickets, and last time I came here on an A tour, wickets were very hard to come by so you've got to enjoy them when they come," Sodhi said.

"You look at the good things and you look at the things you can improve on for the second innings and the second four-dayer, and go into the one-dayers with a bit of confidence on the back of some wickets."

Sodhi's five-for included the key wicket of Shreyas Iyer, who anchored the Indian innings from No.5 with 108 off 97 balls.

"At first I was looking to bowl my best ball as much as I possibly could, and just bowl in good areas," Sodhi said.

"Today was a lot about understanding how I can use my fields to combat some of the stroke play, how to have my catchers and place them where they're always in the game, and also have protection."

New Zealand A lost Jeet Raval for 21 and Nicholls for one before George Worker (28) and Will Young (11) saw them through to 64-2 when bad light stopped play.