New Zealand win first Test in India since 1988, trump hosts in Bengaluru | Cricket News
New Zealand ended a long drought in Bengaluru on Sunday, winning a Test for the first time in 36 years in India.
After skittling the hosts for a paltry 46, India’s lowest total at home, the Kiwis piled on a massive 402 on the back of Rachin Ravindra’s century. In reply, Rohit Sharma’s side put on a firm response, reaching 462 on Day 4 on Saturday. Sarfaraz Khan’s 150 and Rishabh Pant’s 99 helped the Indian recovery before New Zealand braved a firm morning attack from Jasprit Bumrah enroute a 107-run chase.
IND vs NZ DAY 5 HIGHLGHTS
First-innings centurion Ravindra and Will Young eventually helped New Zealand reach the target within 28 overs with eight wickets to spare, marking their first Test win in India since November 1988 when they beat the hosts 136 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Yet to win a Test series in India, New Zealand had since lost 10 Tests and drawn nine before marking a third win.
New Zealand’s first Test win had come way back in 1969 when the visitors beat a Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi-led side. Across 37 Tests, their record in India now holds three wins alongside 17 losses and as many draws.
Seventh defeat since 2012
Meanwhile, the defeat is only India’s seventh at home since the start of 2012. India’s last home Test series defeat was in the 2012-13 season against England, dropping two matches. Their previous Test defeat also came against England earlier this year. Besides England and Australia, New Zealand are only the third side to claim a win in the country in this period.
The loss also reduced India’s lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 standings, reducing their PCT from 74.24 to 68.05. India have seven Test remaining this cycle, two against New Zealand and five against the second-placed Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
IND vs NZ Test series schedule
2nd Test: Pune – October 24-28
3rd Test: Mumbai – November 1-5
