How India Fared vs New Zealand in Their Last Five Test Matches
India have had the upper hand in the last five Tests against New Zealand, winning three, while the Black Caps could only muster only one victory
Highlights
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India won the previous home series versus New Zealand 2-0 in 2012
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New Zealand have never won a Test series in India
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India will play 3 Tests versus New Zealand at Kanpur, Kolkata and Indore
The last time New Zealand toured India in 2012, they lost both the Tests. With top spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra ready to exploit the turning pitches in Kanpur, Kolkata and Indore, will the Black Caps be able to look India in the eye this time?
Here is a look at the last five Test encounters between India-New Zealand:
1. The McCullum Show (India's Tour of New Zealand 2014, 2nd Test, Wellington)
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Brendon McCullum became the second Kiwi cricketer to score a Test triple century as New Zealand drew the second Test against India to win the series 1-0.
After conceding a 246-run first innings lead, the hosts were 94/5 at one stage before McCullum and BJ Watling shared a record sixth-wicket stand of 352 to snub India. McCullum, who scored 302 off 559 balls, stayed at crease for 647 minutes.
New Zealand scored 680/8d, their highest Test score ever and also a world record total for a third innings in Test cricket.
2. NZ Seamers Deliver Thrilling Win (India's Tour of New Zealand 2014, 1st Test, Auckland)
Riding on solid spells from Neil Wagner, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, New Zealand handed India their 10th overseas defeat in 11 Tests.
After being put into bat, the hosts lost three quick wickets but McCullum's 224 and Kane Williamson's 113 took them to a mammoth 503. In reply, MS Dhoni-led India lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 202.
McCullum decided to not enforce the follow-on and it backfired. Ishant Sharma led the Indian attack with aplomb and the Kiwis were dismissed for a paltry 105.
With 406 runs needed to win, India were pretty much in game till the time Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan were batting but as soon as they got out, the visitors lost momentum and even a late flurry from Jadeja and Dhoni couldn't help them from suffering a 40-run defeat.
3. Kohli, Dhoni Help India Clinch Series (New Zealand's Tour of India 2012, 2nd Test)
Kohli, the chase specialist, scripted another one, this time in a Test, to help India win the Bengaluru Test by five wickets, after they were reeling at 166/5 in pursuit of 262.
Kohli, whose hundred in the first innings got India out of trouble, shared a 96-run stand with skipper Dhoni to guide India to a series win. For the visitors, Ross Taylor scored 148 runs but it went in vain.
4. Pujara, Ashwin Script Big India Win (New Zealand's Tour of India 2012, 1st Test)
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Cheteshwar Pujara's 159 and R Ashwin 12/84 helped India crush the Kiwis by an innings and 115 runs at Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad.
New Zealand, following on after being bowled out for 159 in first innings in response to India's 438, were all out for 164.
Eighteen of New Zealand's 20 wickets fell to the spinners.
5. The 'Wall' Stands Tall (New Zealand's Tour of India 2010, 3rd Test, Nagpur)
As the spinners accounted for 60 per cent of New Zealand's wickets, Rahul Dravid's 191 proved more than enough for the hosts to register a series win by an innings and 98 runs.
For the first time in the series, nothing went right for the visitors as they were bundled out for 193 in the first innings. Dravid's magnificent innings then gave India a big lead, something which New Zealand found difficult to deal with.