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Having clinched the three-match T20I series against New Zealand 3-0, India are now gearing up for the two-match Test series, which begins at the Green Park in Kanpur on November 25.
The Indians have rested Virat Kohli for the first Test and Ajinkya Rahane will lead the hosts in Kanpur. For New Zealand, Kane Williamson will be back to captain the team after opting out of the T20Is.
India and New Zealand have so far faced each other in 60 Tests, out of which the Indians have won 21 and the Kiwis 13. 26 matches have ended in a draw. India have an exceptional record against New Zealand at home, having won 16 and lost only two Tests.
Similarly, the Kiwis have been dominant in their home den, winning 10 and losing five. The first time the teams met at a neutral venue, New Zealand defeated India to clinch the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC).
Famous knocks by Indians against New Zealand in Test matches
There have been some excellent batting efforts by Indians against New Zealand in Test matches over the years. We pick five of the best.
#1 Vinoo Mankad - 231 (Chennai, 1956)
The legendary Vinoo Mankad was at his sublime best in the fifth Test of the five-match series in Chennai in January 1956. Opening the batting after India won the toss, Mankad occupied the crease for 525 minutes and scored 231 with the help of 21 fours.
This was the same Test in which Mankad featured in the legendary opening stand of 413 with Pankaj Roy (173). This stand remained the record for the highest first-wicket stand in Tests for five decades until it was broken by Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith in 2008.
Mankad and Roy batted through the entire opening day. The former returned unbeaten on 109, while Roy was batting on 114.
Mankad continued to dominate the New Zealand bowlers the next day before eventually falling for 231. This would remain the highest individual Test score by an Indian for 27 years until it was surpassed by Sunil Gavaskar, who made 236* against West Indies in 1983.
Coming back to the 1956 Test, India declared on 537 for 3 and went on to win the match by an innings and 109 runs. Subhash Gupte picked up nine wickets in the match, while Mankad claimed four scalps in New Zealand’s second innings after they were made to follow on.
#2 Rahul Dravid - 222 (Ahmedabad, 2003)
Current Team India coach Rahul Dravid loved batting for long hours. During the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand in October 2003, Dravid was out in the middle for 578 minutes, during which he faced 387 balls and scored 222.
Batting first, India lost openers Aakash Chopra for 42 and Virender Sehwag for 29. Sachin Tendulkar also fell for 8, leaving the hosts in a spot of bother at 134 for 3. Dravid, however, frustrated the New Zealand bowling. India did not lose any further wickets on the day as Dravid returned unbeaten on 110 and VVS Laxman on 56.
On Day 2, ‘The Wall’ carried on his defiant effort. He reached a well-deserved double hundred with a boundary off Scott Styris. His long vigil ended when he was caught behind off Jacob Oram. Dravid struck 28 fours and a six during his innings. Sourav Ganguly scored exactly 100* as India declared on 500 for 5. Dravid contributed 73 in the second innings as well as the Test ended in a draw.
#3 Sachin Tendulkar - 217 (Ahmedabad, 1999)
Nearly a decade after making his Test debut, Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden double hundred. It came against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in October 1999. India batted first in the third Test and Tendulkar top-scored with 217 from 344 balls. The Master Blaster occupied the crease for close to 500 minutes, during which he hit 29 fours.
Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly (125) featured in a mammoth fourth-wicket stand of 281 as India amassed 583 for 7 declared in their first innings. Tendulkar reached his century before the end of Day 1, while Ganguly crossed his fifty. On Day 2, Tendulkar batted on with exemplary patience and raised his first score of 200-plus.
Tendulkar was the seventh wicket to fall in the Indian innings with the team score on 521. It needed a brilliant piece of fielding to end the Indian legend’s knock. Tendulkar pulled New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, only for Dion Nash to grab a superb driving catch at mid-wicket.
Set 424 for victory in their second innings, New Zealand displayed great resolve and batted for 95 overs to score 252 for 2 and secure a draw. Current Kiwi coach Gary Stead top-scored with 78.
#4 Virat Kohli - 211 (Indore, 2016)
Current Indian skipper Virat Kohli set up the team’s victory against New Zealand during the third Test of the three-match series in October 2016. India batted first after winning the toss and Kohli led from the front with a sublime 211 off 366 balls. The Indian captain smashed 20 fours during his knock, which lasted 536 minutes.
India were 100 for 3 at one stage before a mammoth partnership of 365 between Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (188) put the hosts on top. Kohli reached his hundred before the end of the first day’s play as India went to stumps at 267 for 3. He looked in no trouble at all on Day 2 as he eased towards his second double hundred of the year. He got there by working New Zealand pacer Matt Henry towards deep square for a single.
Kohli’s brilliant knock ended when he was trapped lbw by Jeetan Patel. Rahane missed his double hundred by 12 runs and the knock remains his highest score in Test cricket. India declared their first innings on 557 for 5. Ravichandran Ashwin then claimed 13 wickets to run through the Kiwi batting line-up. India won the Test by 321 runs to clinch the series 3-0.
#5 Mohammad Azharuddin - 192 (Auckland, 1990)
Mohammad Azharuddin played a gem of a knock as India drew the third Test against New Zealand in Auckland in February 1990. Bowling first, India had the Kiwis on the ropes at 85 for 6 but a stunning 136-ball 173 by Ian Smith lifted the hosts to 391. Richard Hadlee also chipped in with a splendid 87.
In response, India lost three wickets for 71. However, Azhar came up with a splendid innings to lead the visitors’ fightback. He batted for 421 minutes and hit 26 fours during his 259-ball knock. The performance came against a top-class New Zealand attack featuring Hadlee, Danny Morrison and Martin Snedden. Azhar missed out on a double hundred as he was caught off Shane Thomson’s bowling.
Following their captain’s dismissal, Kiran More and Atul Wassan cracked quickfire half-centuries as India extended their innings to 482. Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe struck hundreds in New Zealand’s second innings as the Test ended in a high-scoring draw.
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