The contests between India and New Zealand have always been quite fascinating due to the contrasting nature of pitches in the two countries. While Indian pitches often render conventional swing redundant, Kiwi conditions could be deemed as the opposite with seam-friendly surfaces and lush outfields colluding to dispense spin as well as reverse.
Though India hold a superior overall record with 20 victories as against 10 defeats (*as of 10th October 2016), surprisingly none of their batsmen have scored a double century in New Zealand. However, there have been several instances of Indian batsmen scoring double hundreds against the Kiwis on home soil.
In that context, let us take a look at five of the highest individual scores registered by Indian batsmen against New Zealand in Tests
#5 – Virat Kohli's 211 at Indore, 2016
The current Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has managed to sneak into the top five list with his clinical knock in the third Test at Holkar Stadium in Indore. Coming into the match on the back of an insurmountable 2-0 lead, the hosts won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.
After the top order batsmen were not able to convert their starts, they found themselves in a precarious position at 100/3 when Kohli combined with Ajinkya Rahane to pile on the runs. The captain led from the front and cruised to his second double century as the Kiwi bowlers wilted under favorable batting conditions.
The hallmark of Kohli's innings was his effortless rotation of the strike which yielded him 115 singles as against only 20 boundaries.
#4 – Sachin Tendulkar’s 217 at Ahmedabad, 1999
Although the 90s saw India struggling outside the subcontinent, their record at home during that decade was quite formidable with no series losses. They were expected to trample a New Zealand side that relied heavily on seamers and lower-order heroics.
However, the opening Test indicated that the series was going to a lot closer than anticipated as the hosts bounced back to escape with a draw after being bowled out for just 83 in the first-innings.
The Indians won the second Test comfortably and arrived at Ahmedabad eager to wrap up the series with another victory. They were led by then-captain Sachin Tendulkar who showed the way by smashing a 344-ball 217 to set up a daunting first-innings total.
Despite declaring twice in the match, they had to remain content with a 1-0 margin as the visitors held on grimly against Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh on the final day.
#3 – Rahul Dravid’s 222 at Ahmedabad, 2003
Almost 4 years later at the same venue, another Indian batting icon was in the thick of the action against the Blackcaps led by the astute Stephen Fleming. Though it was the first Test of the series, this time, the script seemed to follow the previous Test at Ahmedabad between the two teams.
Upon winning the toss, India batted with authority and rode on Rahul Dravid’s meticulous 222 to reach the 500-mark before declaring. However, the visitors defied Kumble and Harbhajan again on the final day to ensure that the match was drawn. Eventually, the series also ended in a stalemate as the second Test at Mohali did not produce a result as well.
#2 – Polly Umrigar’s 223 at Hyderabad, 1955 & Vinoo Mankad’s 223 at Bombay, 1955
The second spot is shared by two of Indian cricket’s yesteryear legends – Polly Umrigar and Vinoo Mankad. While the former was a powerful stroke-maker who could bowl handy seam-ups too, the latter was a classical left-arm spinner whose determined batting earned him five Test tons.
Aside from featuring the two luminaries, the 1955/56 series was special for both India and New Zealand as the two teams were meeting for the first time ever. While Umrigar‘s 223 came in the first match at the Fateh Maidan in Hyderabad, Mankad scored the exact amount of runs in the very next match at Brabourne Stadium.
Though India could not enforce a result in the opening game, they coasted to an innings victory in the second Test.
#1 – Vinoo Mankad’s 231 at Madras, 1956
Peculiarly, yet another double hundred was scored by an Indian batsman in the same series. It was Mankad yet again who starred with the bat to torment the New Zealand bowling unit.
On a spin-friendly surface, the right-hander put on a mammoth 413-run stand with fellow opener Pankaj Roy and created a record partnership for the first wicket that stood for over 52 years.
Also Read: Vinoo Mankad – A cricketing great who should be remembered for more than just Mankading
Not content with his batting exploits, Mankad returned to haunt the Kiwis by taking four wickets in the second innings across a marathon spell of 40 overs. India romped to another innings victory to clinch the series by a 2-0 margin.
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