Test Cricket: Team India's 5 monumental away series victories

New Zealand, 2008-09

India v New Zealand: 2nd Test - Day Four

Not many people would have expected this win in this list but India's victory in New Zealand is remembered for team India's sheer brilliance and absolute resilience against a tough kiwi side. Travelling to New Zealand has never been easy as the Kiwis are hard to beat at home.

MS Dhoni led team India against New Zealand on their own turf for a three-match test series in 2008. The Indian side were riding high on their ODI success against the Kiwis and carried their excellent form into the tests as well. The visitors were untroubled in the first test as a Sachin Tendulkar special was in store for the opening fixture. The master blaster slammed a knock of 160 to help India post in excess of 500 in their 1st innings. New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori scored a sensational ton in reply but his efforts were not enough to save his side from following on. New Zealand batted again and were bundled out for 279 in the 2nd innings to set India a target of just 30 runs. The Indians won by 10 wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

The New Zealand side started in a devastating manner in Napier for the second test as Jesse Ryder scored 201 to help his team post a total of 619. The fortunes had changed as it was team India who were asked to follow on after being bowled out for 305 in the first innings. But the visitors managed to play out two entire days to draw the second match courtesy of Gautam Gambhir's ton.

With the final match being played in Wellington, both teams had everything to play for. India batting first, and put up a decent total of 379 to have a strong foot in the match. The Kiwis never threatened the Indian side as the match went into the last day with the possibility of an Indian win but a Ross Taylor century prevented a loss for the hosts as the matched ended in a draw. The series was done and dusted as India flew back as the winners of test series.