Highest Test partnerships by Indians in New Zealand

Over the course of India’s cricketing existence, New Zealand has always had a special place and much of that has to do with the series win in 1967-68. That was India’s first Test series victory away from home and over the years, the team has enjoyed a degree of success in New Zealand. Needless, it has not won as much as would be expected but still India’s record there is not as bad as their record in Australia, New Zealand’s immediate neighbour.

The conditions in New Zealand have often proven to be tough for batsmen and Indian batsmen have often had some pretty ordinary tours, most notably in 2002 when the batsmen struggled to get bat on ball on seaming pitches.

Partnerships are a big part of any success story in Test cricket when it comes to overseas Test series and India have had a fair few successful ones during their tours to New Zealand. Here is a look at 5 of the highest.

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#5 144 run 4th wicket stand between Mohammad Azharuddin and Dilip Vengsarkar at Auckland, 1990

New Zealand were leading 1-0 in the three-match Test series back in 1990 when the teams went to Auckland for the last Test and soon enough the visitors had been batted out of the game after New Zealand made 391 in the first innings.

In their reply, India started poorly and had been reduced to 71 for 3 by Danny Morrison, Richard Hadlee, and Martin Snedden.

That’s when captain Mohammad Azharuddin came together with Dilip Vengsarkar came together to share an excellent partnership and get India out of trouble.

Considering the fact that both were generally attacking batsmen, it was a partnership that took the attack to the opposition and it came to an end when Vengsarkar got out for 47, having added 144 for the fourth wicket.

Azharuddin went on to slam an outstanding 192 and India ended up making 482. However, the match ended in a tame draw.

#4 149* run 1st wicket stand between Manoj Prabhakar and WV Raman at Auckland, 1990

Manoj Prabhakar

In the Test match in which Mohammad Azharuddin and Dilip Vengsarkar came together for their scintillating 144 run partnership for the fourth wicket in the first innings, the openers came good in the second innings.

All-rounder Manoj Prabhakar and WV Raman could add only 15 runs in their first wicket partnership in the first innings while replying to New Zealand’s 391. However, India did well and posted 482. It was a batsman’s wicket and after New Zealand had declared for 483, India had to survive 40 odd overs to save the game. The target of 393 was out of the question.

The opening batsmen played with patiently and did not expose the top order against the New Zealand fast bowlers on the last day to cause undue alarms. Prabhakar and Raman both batted at a fair clip as they went on to score 63 (6 fours) and 72 (8 fours) respectively. They remained not out till the end and had added an unbeaten 149 in 45 overs to close out the draw.

#3 170 runs 2nd wicket stand between Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid at Wellington, 2009

Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid

India were leading the three-match series 1-0 when the third Test came along at Wellington and the visitors made 379 all out in the first innings, before dismissing New Zealand for 197. India only needed a draw to win the series and opening batsman Gautam Gambhir, along with legendary number three Rahul Dravid set about to shut New Zealand out of the game with a superb second wicket stand.

India had already taken a 182 run first innings lead and after they lost Virender Sehwag early on in the second innings, Gambhir and Dravid came together. While Dravid was his usual solid self, Gambhir played an aggressive knock and the pair added 170 in just over 46 overs.

The partnership ended after Dravid got out for 60 (145 balls, 10 fours) but Gambhir went on to make 167 (257 balls, 16 fours, 2 sixes) and ensured that the match was safe. Facing a target of 617 runs, New Zealand were on the mat at 258 for 8 but held on grimly for a draw in the end.

#2 194* run 3rd wicket stand between Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly at Hamilton, 1999

Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly

The 1998-99 tour to New Zealand was the making of Rahul Dravid as one of India’s best batsmen and the 3rd Test of the series saw him deliver his best performance in his career till then.

In the first innings, he made 190 to help India eke out a narrow first innings lead and in the second innings, he put together a superb 194 run unbeaten stand with Sourav Ganguly to help India save the game.

India had been set a target of 415 and after they had been reduced to 55 for 2, Dravid and Ganguly got together to save the Test match. Both players looked in imperious form and struck superb centuries and in the process added 194 for the third wicket. Ganguly made 101 not out (111 balls, 15 fours, 2 sixes), while Dravid made 103 not out (136 balls, 16 fours) and brought up an unbeaten stand of 194, that is the 2nd highest partnership by an Indian pair in a Test match in New Zealand.

#1 204 run 2nd wicket stand between Sunil Gavaskar and Surinder Amarnath at Auckland, 1976

Sunil Gavaskar

The highest partnership by an Indian batting pair in New Zealand also came about in a Test match that the team won and that perhaps makes the 204 run second wicket stand a special one. In the first test of the series in New Zealand back in 1976, India dismissed New Zealand for 266 in the first innings, thanks to Bhagwath Chandrasekhar’s superb six-wicket haul. However, they had to drive home the advantage and that was achieved by star opener Sunil Gavaskar and debutant Surinder Amarnath.

Gavaskar’s opening partner Vengsarkar was dismissed with the score on 16 but then the counterattack from left-handed debutante Surinder Amarnath helped India dominate the home side’s bowling attack. Gavaskar was patience personified as he made 116 in 368 minutes and hit 15 fours along with a six, but Amarnath played his strokes with merry abandon.

He hit 16 fours and a six to make 124 as India firmly established themselves in control of the game. The 204 run second wicket stand was pivotal towards India gaining a lead in a game that they went on to win by eight wickets.