India vs New Zealand Tests: Top 10 records to know about
Having thumped Bangladesh 2-0, Team India are now gearing up to take on New Zealand in a three-match Test series at home. The series will be significant for the hosts with regard to their qualification hopes for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The first match of the series will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru from October 16 to October 20. The second Test will be held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune from October 24 to October 28. The series will conclude with the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1 to November 5.
While India beat Bangladesh in their previous Test series, the Kiwis went down to Sri Lanka 2-0 away. Looking at the head-to-head stats between India and New Zealand in Tests, they have clashed in 62 matches, with India winning 22 and the Kiwis 13. As many as 27 matches between them have ended in a draw.
As India and New Zealand prepare to resume their Test rivalry, we take a look at 10 significant records in their red-ball battles.
#1 The highest total in India vs New Zealand Tests
The Kiwis have registered the top three Test totals in India vs New Zealand matches. They posted 680-8 declared in Wellington in February 2014, 630-6 declared in Mohali in October 2003 and 619-9 declared in Napier in March 2009. India's highest score in Tests against New Zealand is 583-7 declared in Ahmedabad in October 1999.
#2 The lowest total in IND vs NZ Tests
New Zealand's 62 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in December 2001 is the lowest total in IND vs NZ Tests. The Kiwis folded up for the paltry score in their first innings in the Test responding to India's 352. For India, their lowest Test total against New Zealand is 81 in Wellington in February 1976.
#3 Largest margin of victory
India beat New Zealand by an innings & 198 runs in Nagpur in November 2010. This is the largest margin of victory by innings in Test matches between the two nations. Further, India's 372-run triumph in Mumbai in December 2001 is the largest margin of victory by runs in India vs New Zealand Tests.
#4 Most runs in India vs New Zealand Tests
Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid holds the record for having scored the most number of runs in India vs New Zealand Tests. In 15 matches, he scored 1,659 runs at an average of 63.80.
Sachin Tendulkar is second on the list, with 1,595 runs from 24 matches at an average of 46.91. Brendon McCullum, with 1,224 runs from 10 matches at an average of 68, completes the top three.
#5 Highest individual score in IND vs NZ Tests
Former Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum holds the record for posting the highest individual score in India vs New Zealand Test matches. The former keeper-batter hammered 302 off 559 balls in Wellington in February 2014. Graham Dowling (239 in Christchurch, February 1968) and Vinoo Mankad (231 in Chennai, January 1956) are the next two names on the illustrious list.
#6 Most hundreds in IND vs NZ Tests
Former India captain Dravid tops the list of batters with most hundreds in Tests between India and the Kiwis. He notched up six centuries in 15 matches. Dravid is followed by another former India skipper Tendulkar (4) and McCullum (4).
#7 Most runs in series
Bert Sutcliffe holds the record for having scored most runs in an India vs New Zealand Test series. In five Tests during the 1955-56 tour of India, Sutcliffe amassed 611 runs at an average of 87.28, with two hundreds and one fifty, which included a best of 230*. McCullum (535) and Mankad (526) are the only other batters with 500-plus runs in an India vs New Zealand Test series.
#8 Most wickets in IND vs NZ Tests
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record for having claimed most wickets in IND vs NZ Test matches. In nine games, he has picked up 65 wickets at an average of 15.43, with six five-fers.
Kiwi legend Sir Richard Hadlee is second on the list, with 65 wickets from 14 games at an average of 22.96.
#9 Best bowling figures in an innings
Ajaz Patel's 10-119 in Mumbai in December 2021 is the best innings bowling figures in India vs New Zealand Tests. Srinivas Venkataraghavan (8-72 in Delhi, March 1965) and Erapalli Prasanna (8-76 in Auckland, January 1976) are the other bowlers with eight or more wickets in an innings in India vs New Zealand Tests.
#10 Most wickets in a series
Former leg-spinner Subhash Gupte holds the record for having claimed most scalps in a Test series between India and the Kiwis. He picked up 34 wickets in five matches at an average of 19.67, with four five-fers, during New Zealand's tour of India in 1955-56.