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The first Test match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru witnessed a historic victory for the Kiwis, marking their third ever Test win on Indian soil. This triumph, achieved after a 36-year drought, underscores the unpredictable nature of the sport and highlights the resilience of the New Zealand team. The match showcased several statistical oddities and records, highlighting the unique aspects of this particular Test.
One of the most notable statistics is the fact that this is only the third time in 37 Test matches that New Zealand has emerged victorious in India. The last time they achieved this feat was in 1988, signifying the immense difficulty they face in conquering Indian conditions. This victory also marks the second longest gap between wins for New Zealand in an away country, trailing only their maiden victory in England in 1983, which came 52 years after their first match in the nation.
Furthermore, the Test saw India suffer a rare defeat after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. This was only the second instance of India losing a home Test in the last 10 years under these circumstances, underlining the importance of capitalizing on early momentum in Test cricket. The match also saw India record their highest ever total in a home defeat, with their 462 runs in the third innings surpassed only by their 449 runs in the second innings against Pakistan in Bengaluru in 2005.
Another intriguing statistic concerns the performance of the spinners in the match. The combined economy rate of both teams' spinners was a high 4.93, marking the second highest for spinners in a Test where they bowled over 600 balls. This high economy rate suggests that the pitch offered less assistance to the spinners, which may have contributed to the high scoring nature of the match. India's spinners also had a high economy rate in this match, with their 4.83 being the second highest for them in a Test where they bowled over 300 balls.
The New Zealand pacers dominated the match, taking a remarkable 17 wickets between them, marking the most taken by a visiting fast bowling unit in a Test against India in India since 2008. This dominance highlights the vulnerability of the Indian batting lineup against pace bowling in this particular Test match. The victory for New Zealand, achieved with a stunning display of pace bowling and resilience, serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Test cricket and the potential for upsets even in seemingly insurmountable conditions.
Source: Stats: New Zealand register only their third Test win in India