India and New Zealand are all set to face each other in a three-match Test series. The first match will be played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, and Wankhede Stadium. India enters this series on the back of a dominant 2-0 win against Bangladesh in their last home Test series. Rohit Sharma and his team will aim to maintain their winning momentum, with the World Test Championship (WTC) final approaching. A 3-0 series win against New Zealand would provide a significant boost ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-2025.
India vs New Zealand(IND vs NZ) – Head to Head Test
| Teams | Matches Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tied | Home Won | Away Won | Neutral Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 62 | 22 | 13 | 27 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 62 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
IND vs New Zealand(IND vs NZ) – 2024 Test Series Schedule
| Test Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | 16 Oct 2024 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2nd Test | 24 Oct 2024 | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune |
| 3rd Test | 01 Nov 2024 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
India’s Squad for New Zealand Test Series:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Travelling Reserves:
Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mayank Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
New Zealand’s Test Squad for India Series:
Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman (cover), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young
What happened/Who won the last Test series between India and New Zealand?
Both India and New Zealand last clashed with each other in a Two-match Test series hosted by Rohit Sharma and his team. The first match of the series ended in a draw and the second match was won by India by 372 runs which was played at Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Apart from it, India and New Zealand have also met once in the final of the ICC World’s Test Championship where Kiwis defeated men in blue by 8 wickets. This match was organized at the Rose Bowl, Southampton.
ICC Test Champions Points Table(2023-2025)
| Pos | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | NR | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 74.240 |
| 2 | Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 62.500 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 55.560 |
| 4 | England | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 93 | 45.590 |
| 5 | South Africa | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 38.890 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 37.500 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 34.380 |
| 8 | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 18.520 |
| 9 | Pakistan | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 16.670 |
Points System:
- Win: 12 points
- Draw: 4 points
- Tie: 6 points
Most runs in India vs New Zealand Test Cricket history
Star Indian batter Rahul Dravid holds the first position in terms of scoring the most runs among all the previous India vs New Zealand clashes. He has 1659 runs in his kitty with six hundred to his name. Here is the list of top-10 batters with the most runs in the history of IND vs NZ Test.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Dravid (IND) | 15 | 28 | 1659 | 222 | 63.80 | 6 | 6 |
| S. R. Tendulkar (IND) | 24 | 39 | 1595 | 217 | 46.91 | 4 | 8 |
| B. B. McCullum (NZ) | 10 | 19 | 1224 | 302 | 68.00 | 4 | 2 |
| G. T. Dowling (NZ) | 11 | 22 | 964 | 239 | 48.20 | 3 | 2 |
| L. R. P. L. Taylor (NZ) | 17 | 31 | 890 | 151 | 30.68 | 3 | 1 |
| B. Sutcliffe (NZ) | 9 | 16 | 885 | 230* | 68.07 | 3 | 3 |
| V. Sehwag (IND) | 12 | 21 | 883 | 173 | 44.15 | 2 | 3 |
| K. S. Williamson (NZ) | 13 | 24 | 871 | 131 | 37.86 | 2 | 5 |
| C. A. Pujara (IND) | 12 | 23 | 867 | 159 | 39.40 | 2 | 4 |
| V. Kohli (IND) | 11 | 21 | 866 | 211 | 45.57 | 3 | 3 |
Most wickets in India vs New Zealand Test Cricket history
R Ashwin is indeed the greatest spinner in the world of cricket at the moment. His records look so lavish on both home and away ground. In India vs New Zealand Test cricket history, R Ashwin holds the record for picking the most number of wickets which is 66.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | 4 Wkts | 5 Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Ashwin (IND) | 9 | 17 | 92 | 1019 | 66 | 7/59 | 3 | 6 |
| Sir R. J. Hadlee (NZ) | 14 | 24 | 111 | 1493 | 65 | 7/23 | 5 | 4 |
| B. S. Bedi (IND) | 12 | 22 | 251 | 1091 | 57 | 6/42 | 2 | 4 |
| E. A. S. Prasanna (IND) | 10 | 18 | 145 | 1107 | 55 | 8/76 | 4 | 4 |
| T. G. Southee (NZ) | 11 | 21 | 80 | 1284 | 52 | 7/64 | 2 | 3 |
| A. Kumble (IND) | 11 | 18 | 195 | 1293 | 50 | 6/67 | 4 | 3 |
| Z. Khan (IND) | 13 | 24 | 98 | 1478 | 47 | 5/29 | 2 | 4 |
| S. Venkataraghavan (IND) | 10 | 19 | 218 | 1004 | 44 | 8/72 | 1 | 2 |
| Harbhajan Singh (IND) | 13 | 23 | 114 | 1424 | 43 | 6/63 | 2 | 1 |
| T. A. Boult (NZ) | 10 | 19 | 68 | 1149 | 41 | 4/28 | 2 | – |
Most Hundreds in India vs New Zealand Test Cricket History
Here as well, the former Indian captain holds the highest rank with six centuries to his name. Today we will look at the top 10 batters with the most hundred among all the previous clashes of India vs New Zealand in Test matches.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Dravid (IND) | 15 | 28 | 1659 | 222 | 6 | 6 | 223 | 2 |
| B. B. McCullum (NZ) | 10 | 19 | 1224 | 302 | 4 | 2 | 141 | 13 |
| S. R. Tendulkar (IND) | 24 | 39 | 1595 | 217 | 4 | 8 | 212 | 6 |
| V. L. Manjrekar (IND) | 6 | 8 | 507 | 177 | 3 | 1 | 55+ | 0 |
| J. D. Ryder (NZ) | 6 | 10 | 601 | 201 | 3 | 2 | 69 | 3 |
| S. C. Ganguly (IND) | 8 | 15 | 563 | 125 | 3 | 2 | 69 | 11 |
| J. G. Wright (NZ) | 9 | 15 | 804 | 185 | 3 | 3 | 94 | 4 |
| B. Sutcliffe (NZ) | 9 | 16 | 885 | 230* | 3 | 3 | 75+ | 0 |
| V. Kohli (IND) | 11 | 21 | 866 | 211 | 3 | 3 | 105 | 3 |
| G. T. Dowling (NZ) | 11 | 22 | 964 | 239 | 3 | 2 | 61+ | 11 |
Most Dismissals(wicket-keeper) for India vs New Zealand Test Cricket History
It is very surprising to know that the star wicket-keeper batter and former Indian captain holds the second position while the wicket-keeper from New Zealand BJ Watling is in the top position with 37 dismissals.
| Player | Mat | Inns | Dis | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. J. Watling (NZ) | 9 | 16 | 37 | 37 | – |
| M. S. Dhoni (IND) | 9 | 18 | 33 | 28 | 5 |
| I. D. S. Smith (NZ) | 9 | 16 | 29 | 29 | – |
| S. M. H. Kirmani (IND) | 9 | 15 | 28 | 25 | 3 |
| K. J. Wadsworth (NZ) | 6 | 12 | 22 | 21 | 1 |
| F. M. Engineer (IND) | 10 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 2 |
| A. C. Parore (NZ) | 9 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| R. G. Hart (NZ) | 4 | 8 | 13 | 13 | – |
| K. S. More (IND) | 6 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| N. R. Mongia (IND) | 6 | 9 | 12 | 12 | – |
History – A tale of India vs New Zealand first ever Test cricket
The 1955/56 cricket series between New Zealand and India was an important moment in Test cricket history. It took place during a time when both teams were developing, and the series showcased some outstanding individual performances. It also highlighted how cricket was becoming more popular in India.
Series Overview
The New Zealand tour of India in 1955/56 included five Test matches held at various famous cricket venues. The series started on November 19, 1955, and ended on January 11, 1956, featuring a mix of drawn matches and a couple of decisive victories.
Match Summaries
1st Test – Hyderabad (November 19-24, 1955)
The first match took place at the Hyderabad (Deccan) ground, where both teams performed well. India declared their first innings at a strong 498/4, thanks to impressive contributions from their top players. In response, New Zealand scored 326 in their first innings and 212/2 in their second innings. The match ended in a draw, setting the stage for an exciting series.
2nd Test – Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai (December 2-7, 1955)
The second Test was held at the Brabourne Stadium, where India displayed their dominance. They declared their innings at 421/8, showing a strong batting performance. New Zealand batted first but managed only 258 and then was bowled out for 136 in their second innings. India won this match by an innings and 27 runs, taking a crucial lead in the series.
3rd Test – Delhi (December 16-21, 1955)
The third Test, played in Delhi, was another close contest. New Zealand scored a solid 450/2 declared in their first innings, while India responded with 531/7 declared. As time ran out, the match ended in a draw, showcasing the resilience of both teams.
4th Test – Eden Gardens, Kolkata (December 28, 1955 – January 2, 1956)
In the Eden Gardens Test, India batted first, scoring 132 and then a strong 438/7 declared. New Zealand, chasing a target of 235 runs, scored 336 in their first innings but could only manage 75/6 in their second innings, resulting in yet another draw. This match highlighted the growing competitive spirit between the two teams.
5th Test – Chennai (January 6-11, 1956)
The final Test of the series was played in Chennai, where India performed exceptionally well. They declared their innings at 537/3, a total that proved too challenging for New Zealand. In response, New Zealand was bowled out for 209 and 219 in their two innings. India won the match by an innings and 109 runs, finishing the series on a high note.
Impact on Indian Cricket
This series played a vital role in shaping the future of Indian cricket. It showcased India’s growing talent pool, with many players stepping up to perform well. The series victory, especially the two wins by an innings actually sent an alert to all the international teams about the strong entrance of men in blue in the cricket world.
