What happened the last time India played a Test match at Green Park, Kanpur, before IND vs BAN 2024 series?
India continued their amazing run in home Tests with a resounding 280-run win against Bangladesh in the opening Test of the two-match series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Despite Bangladesh troubling the hosts in the first innings, India displayed their indomitable strength in home conditions to take a 1-0 lead.
Bangladesh came into the series on the back of a historic 2-0 away series win against Pakistan. They sounded confident ahead of arguably the toughest challenge in world cricket. India’s record at home has been nothing short of phenomenal. They have won 17 home series on the trot since 2013 and have hardly been challenged by any team.
India were reduced to 144/6 on the opening day of the first Test but made a stunning comeback, riding on a sensational 199-run stand between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Local hero Ashwin scored his sixth Test century while Jadeja contributed with a brilliant knock of 86 to take India to a sizeable score of 376.
Bangladesh were never really in the game and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc, sharing eight wickets between them, as they skittled out the visitors for just 149 runs. India batted with much more freedom in the second innings and set Bangladesh a target of 516 runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who was wicketless in the first innings, ran through the Bangladesh batting line-up in the second essay, bagging six wickets to orchestrate a convincing win for the hosts. It will be an uphill task for Bangladesh to claw their way back in the series. The second and final Test begins on Friday, September 27, at Green Park in Kanpur.
Over the years, the venue has witnessed several historic Tests. Kanpur has traditionally produced black soil pitches, which will be significantly different from the one in Chennai. Fans can expect a relatively lower bounce which might prompt a few changes in either team.
The pitch could get slower as the game progresses, posing a different challenge for the two teams. In 23 Test matches at the Green Park in Kanpur, India have won seven while losing three. The remaining 13 have resulted in draws, suggesting that the pitches have yielded high scores.
New Zealand secured a thrilling draw when India last played a Test in Kanpur
The last time India played a Test in Kanpur was when the Kiwis toured India for a two-match series in 2021. It was one of the most thrilling matches Green Park has witnessed.
While the result wouldn't have pleased the home fans, credit should go to New Zealand's last pair of Rachin Ravindra (debutant) and Ajaz Patel, who batted out of their skins to save the Test for their team.
Ajinkya Rahane led India in the absence of their regular skipper Virat Kohli. The hosts batted after winning the toss and put up a competitive score of 345.
India lost Mayank Agarwal (13) early but Shubman Gill and Chesteshwar Pujara resurrected the ship with a 61-run partnership. Gill scored a fluent half-century (52) but Pujara (26) couldn't convert it into a big one.
Rahane looked in good touch en route to his knock of 35. However, it was debutant Shreyas Iyer who batted brilliantly and scored his maiden Test century (105) to take India to a competitive score. Ravindra Jadeja (50) and Iyer shared a 121-run stand. Ashwin also contributed with a stroke-filled 38.
Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson were the wreckers-in-chief for New Zealand, bagging five and three wickets, respectively. Southee, in particular, benefited from the early overcast conditions while Jamieson hit his straps right from the outset.
New Zealand got off to the perfect start, with openers Will Young and Tom Latham looking in absolute command of proceedings. They weathered the early storm and then cashed in on the opportunities presented by the Indian bowlers. The duo stayed in the middle for 66 overs, a rarity in Tests in India.
Both looked resolute in their defense and were hardly troubled even by a well-oiled Indian bowling unit. Ravichandran Ashwin finally broke the 151-run stand when Young (89) was caught by wicketkeeper KS Bharat.
Kane Williamson started well but once the Indian spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar Patel got into its groove, the New Zealand middle order struggled.
Axar Patel dismissed Latham who scored a brilliant 95. Kyle Jamieson was the third-highest scorer of the innings with 23, showing how quickly the New Zealand line-up collapsed after the massive opening stand.
Axar finished with a fifer while Ashwin chipped in with three crucial wickets. India secured a 49-run first-innings lead which looked significant, with just a couple of days left in the game.
Yet again Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson wrecked India's top and middle order, reducing them to 51/5. Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha batted superbly under pressure to bail India out of the precarious situation.
Iyer scored 65 while Saha remained unbeaten on 61 as India declared the innings on 234/7, setting New Zealand a target of 284 runs. The visitors had more than 100 overs to chase the target which clearly showed that India wanted to force a result. The Kiwis lost Will Young (2) early in the run chase but William Somerville and Tom Latham steadied the ship with a 75-run partnership.
It was Umesh Yadav who broke the partnership by nicking off Somerville (36). Latham (52) went on to notch up his second fifty of the match but was castled by Ravichandran Ashwin soon after.
It was a procession of sorts from thereon, as India put themselves in the driver's seat. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin ran through the New Zealand middle and lower order, and it looked like the end was near for the Kiwis.
New Zealand were reduced to 155/9 in the 90th over and it seemed inevitable that India would go on to take a 1-0 lead. However, what transpired next was just an indication of what was in store for Rachin Ravindra as a batter. He played primarily as a bowler but displayed his batting skills in a match-saving final wicket partnership with Ajaz Patel.
The duo showed some solid defensive technique. With just eight minutes left in the fifth day’s play, umpire Nitin Menon checked the light meter and deemed it unfit for play to continue, ending the game in a stalemate.