In an extraordinary turn of events, New Zealand has etched its name in the cricketing annals with a historic Test victory against India in Bengaluru. This landmark accomplishment marks only the third time in 37 Test encounters that New Zealand has triumphed on Indian soil, and their first victory here since 1988, a staggering span of 36 years. This gap stands as the second-longest stretch between away wins for New Zealand in any country, only surpassed by their 52-year wait for a win in England from 1931 to 1983.
This Test match in Bengaluru is not only a testament to New Zealand’s perseverance and performance but also highlights their exceptional ability to chase down a fourth-innings target in India—a feat rarely achieved by visiting teams. In fact, since 2000, there have been only seven occasions where an overseas team has successfully chased a target of over 100 runs in the fourth innings in India. The latest triumph underscores New Zealand’s rising stature and resilience in international cricket.
For India, this defeat spells a rare instance of a home Test loss despite having the advantage of winning the toss and opting to bat first. Such an event has occurred only twice in the last decade. Moreover, 2023 marks the first year since 1987 that India has lost home Tests against two distinct teams within the same calendar year. Earlier this year, England bested India in Hyderabad, compounding the year’s unusual results for the home side.
A striking highlight of New Zealand’s performance in Bengaluru was their impressive run rate of 4.29, the third-highest by any team in a Test against India on Indian soil. This figure sits behind only Australia’s 4.92 at Wankhede in 2001 and England’s 4.35 in Visakhapatnam earlier in 2023. The overall run rate of 4.
.08 in this Test is a record for a Test match hosted in India, and speaks to the aggressive and dynamic play by both sides. Furthermore, India’s own run rate of 4.64 while amassing 462 runs stands as their highest for any 450-plus total in Tests.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed India’s first Test defeat in 19 years, their last loss here being at the hands of Pakistan in March 2005. Such losses are not common for India at this venue, though it stands as the location for India’s most frequent home defeats since 1990, with the team losing five matches. Wankhede Stadium ranks second, with four defeats in the same period.
In this historic Test, India’s third innings total of 462 runs was a bittersweet milestone—it became the highest total to result in a home defeat for them, surpassing the previous record of 449 runs against Pakistan in 2005 at the same ground. Adding to the unusual nature of this loss was the fact that it happened despite an entire day’s play being washed out due to rain, making it only the second such occurrence for India after a similar Test against West Indies in Kolkata in 1966.
New Zealand’s first innings lead of 356 runs was not just their highest against India, but it also stands as the fifth-highest first innings lead any team has secured against India in India. The substantial lead paved the way for New Zealand’s commanding performance, marking a strategic high point in their cricketing engagements in the subcontinent.
Remarkably for India, their 416-run improvement from the first to the second innings was the third-largest such jump in cricket history, highlighting a dramatic turnaround in batting form. However, the game was also notable for the Indian batsmen’s uncharacteristic struggles, with seven of them scoring ducks, equalling the second most for India in a Test match.
William O’Rourke’s bowling figures of 7/114 set a new standard for a New Zealand bowler making a debut Test appearance in India, surpassing Dayle Hadlee’s record from 1969. Complementing this individual brilliance, the collective effort of New Zealand’s pace attack was unprecedented, taking 17 wickets—the most by visiting pacers in a Test against India since South Africa’s encounter in Ahmedabad in 2008.
Overall, this Test match was not just a game but a saga of records, strategies, and narratives that spotlighted New Zealand’s tenacity and skill. It stood as a reminder of the unpredictable beauty of Test cricket, where the landscape of victory and defeat can transform dramatically from one inning to the next.