India’s 5 Biggest Wins vs New Zealand In Tests
Published - 28 Nov 2021, 08:10 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:01 AM
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India-New Zealand matches have always garnered the interest of cricket fans. Be it Tests, One-Day Internationals or T20Is, fans have loved watching the two teams take on each other. New Zealand and India recently played a three-match T20 series in India, which the latter won by 3-0. Currently, a two-match Test series between these two teams is underway.
It will be interesting to see if New Zealand can pose a challenge against India in their conditions. Both the teams have performed exceedingly well at home, however, the two teams have found it tough to win the away games.
India, over the years, have won several Test matches against New Zealand. However, it’s also important to know that most of the victories came at home. Nevertheless, those wins were special too and are still etched in the hearts of the cricket fans.
In this article, we have compiled 5 Test victories India have registered against New Zealand in the history of their Test Cricket rivalry.
India’s 5 Biggest Wins vs New Zealand In Tests
5. India tour of New Zealand (2008-09), 1st Test- India won by 10 wickets
India toured New Zealand for an all-format series in 2008. They were set to play a three-match Test series against New Zealand for the first time in five years. And, the Men in Blue put on a sensational show with both bat and ball in the first Test and outplayed New Zealand in all departments.
Ishant Sharma picked 4 wickets, while Munaf Patel picked three to bundle out New Zealand for 279 runs in the first innings. In reply, India notched a gigantic 520-run total, thanks to a sensational 160-run knock from Sachin Tendulkar.
New Zealand, in reply, managed 279 runs and India had to score only 39 runs to win the Test. India chased down the score without losing a wicket.
The Men in Blue made a rollicking start to the Test series as they won the game by 10 wickets. The next two matches resulted in draws and therefore India took the series 1-0.
4. New Zealand Tour of India 1955, Second test: India won by an innings and 27 runs
The New Zealand Cricket Team toured India in the 1955-56 season for a five-match series. The first Test resulted in a draw. But India made sure they put on a better performance in the next game. Batting first, the Men in Blue posted a mammoth 421-run total.
Vinoo Mankad led the way with the bat as he smashed 223 runs, a knock which was laced with 22 fours. AG Kripal Singh also made a valuable contribution of 63 runs.
A collective bowling effort from India helped them bundle out New Zealand for just 258 runs in the first innings. New Zealand couldn’t avoid the follow-on and had to bat once again. The Blackcaps were bowled out for just 136 runs and thereby lost the game by an innings and 27 runs.
3. New Zealand tour of India 1955- Fifth Test, India won by an innings and 109 runs
The fifth Test of the aforementioned series saw India showcasing another brilliant performance with both bat and ball. Once again, Vinoo Mankad starred with the bat as he scored a sensational knock of 231 runs, including 21 fours.
His superlative knock helped the team post a mammoth 537-run total in the first innings. New Zealand lacked resistance and could only manage to score 209 and 219 runs in the second and third innings. India, as a result, won that by an innings and 109 runs. With that win, India won the series by a 2-0 margin.
2. New Zealand tour of India 2012, First Test- India won by an innings and 115 runs
New Zealand toured India in 2012 for a two-match Test series and two T20 internationals. India thrashed New Zealand in the first Test, winning the game by an innings and 115 runs. Riding on sensational knocks from Cheteshwar Pujara (159 off 306) and MS Dhoni (73 off 147), India posted a mammoth 438 runs in the first innings.
New Zealand, in reply, were bowled out for a paltry 159 in the second innings. Ravi Ashwin starred with the ball, picking 6 for 31. In their second innings, New Zealand exhibited another dismal show with the bat as they could only manage to score 164 runs. Ashwin, once again, picked 6 wickets for just 54 runs.
New Zealand tour of India 2010-11- Third Test- India won by an innings and 198 runs
During the New Zealand tour of India in 2010-11, the first two matches of the three-match Test series resulted in draws. New Zealand batters put on sensational performances with the bat in both games.
However, they couldn’t replicate those performances in the final Test of the series. New Zealand batted first and were folded for just 193 runs. Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha picked seven wickets between them.
India, in reply, put on a massive 566-run total. Rahul Dravid was the scorer-in-chief as he scored 191 off 396 deliveries. MS Dhoni too played a valuable 98-run knock off 156 balls.
New Zealand, in their second innings, once again, were bowled out for a low total of 175 runs, thereby losing the game by an innings and 198 runs. This is India’s biggest margin of a win against New Zealand in Tests to date.
