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India Vs New Zealand Head to Head Record in Test Cricket
India ahead of New Zealand in winning Tests in Head-to-Head duel
Once again, Test cricket, the pristine format of the game cricket will be looking in distinction from 18th to 22nd June as the desired final of the World Test Championship (WTC) is going to take place between India and New Zealand. Both the teams are currently being led by World Cricket's two magnificent batsmen. Team India on the field will be guided by the skipper and talismanic Virat Kohli while the New Zealand team will be fighting under the leadership of another prolific batsman who is especially experienced in Test cricket, Kane Williamson.
However, while discussing the key dependence of both the teams, New Zealand can be proud of its superb bowling line-up. The menacing bowling line-up comprises Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Neil Wagner. They all are capable of piercing the world's batting line-up. On the contrary, the Indian squad also looks extremely balanced as it has got the bowling line-up- like three brilliant pacers, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ishant Sharma as well as spinners like Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, and Axar Patel who can pose a real threat for any batsman in the World also.
With two fancied teams encountering on England soil, let us look at an India Vs New Zealand Head to Head Record. India is obviously statistically ahead of its counterpart in terms of winning and losing test matches so far. Out of the 59 Test matches that have been organized between these two teams, India has been able to win 21 while New Zealand has emerged triumphant in 12 matches. 26 games however have ended in a draw.
Also Read - What happens if the WTC final ends in a draw or tie?
Top Performers in India Vs New Zealand Test matches
Looking at the best performers in India Vs New Zealand Head to Head Record Rahul Dravid leads the run-scoring sheet so far. The right-handed Mr. ‘Dependable’ has amassed 1659 runs against New Zealand in 15 Tests and additionally, he has maintained an amazing of 63.80. Dravid has also scored 6 centuries and 6 fifties as well against New Zealand.
On the other hand, among the Kiwi batsmen, Brendon McCullum has been the most inexhaustible performer with the willow. McCullum, having played 10 Tests against India has scored 1224 runs at an astonishing average of 68.00 also including 4 centuries and 2 half-centuries.
Talking about the performance shown by the cricketers of the present time, Virat Kohli who is being called the best Indian batsman presently has scored 773 runs against New Zealand so far at an average of 51.53 including 3 centuries and 3 half-centuries. Ross Taylor, on behalf of New Zealand, has scored the maximum runs so far. The veteran batsman has scored 812 runs against India at an average of 33.83.
From the bowlers’ end, the first two names from two countries who should be in the list of India Vs New Zealand Head to Head Record are two legends. They are Richard Hadlee and Bishan Bedi. Hadlee, the right-arm medium-pacer magician picked up 65 wickets against India and bagged his wickets at an amazing average of 22.96. On India’s part, it has been the spin-legend Bishan Singh Bedi who has been the highest wicket-taker so far. The incisive left-arm spinner scalped 57 wickets in 12 Tests against New Zealand maintaining an average of 19.14.
Also Read - Top 5 Indian Players who surprising selection for the WTC Final Squad
Among the present bowlers, Tim Southee ranks in the top position, having picked up 39 wickets in 8 Tests against India at an average of 24.46. On the contrary, R. Ashwin has been the most successful with 48 wickets in Tests against the Black Caps at an average of 16.97.
What happened when India and New Zealand met last time in Test cricket?
New Zealand trounced India when these two teams met each other last time at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch last year. The Test match finished in only three days. India batted first and scored a total of 242 while New Zealand innings ended in 235.
In the 2nd innings, Trent Boult and Tim Southee exhibited devastating performance, forcing Virat Kohli-led India to become all-out for only 124. The top scorer in India’s 2nd innings was Cheteshwar Pujara. He managed 24. New Zealand edged past the aim of 132 in the 2nd innings with 7 wickets to spare to win the Test comfortably.
