After a huge win the first Test at Kanpur, India beat New Zealand by 178 runs in the second Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and take an unassailable lead in the three-match series. With this win, the Virat Kohli-led side replaced Pakistan as the number one Test team in the ICC Test rankings. India becoming the world no. 1 was more special to the cricketers because it came at a historic venue, the Eden Gardens and in India’s 250th home Test match.
It was a collective team effort by the Indians as each and everyone played their role to perfection. After losing three early wickets on day 1, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s partnership revived the innings for the hosts as they went on to score 316 in the first innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s heroics made sure that the Kiwis were dismissed for 204 in their in their first innings, handing India a massive 112-run lead.
Just like the first innings, there were some concerns for the Indian batsmen as they lost some quick wickets in the second innings before Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha controlled the proceedings. Rohit’s 82 and Saha’s unbeaten 58 helped India reach 263 and set a target of 375.
The visitors were never in the hunt as they lost wickets at regular intervals and they handed India a 178-run win. R Ashwin and Mohammad Shami took three wickets each and helped India win the match inside the first four days.
Also read: 5 positives for India from the Kolkata Test
The members of the Indian cricket team (both present and former cricketers) were jubilant after the victory and took Twitter as a medium to express their feelings. Here is what they had to say after the historic moment:
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