5 records that can be broken in the India-New Zealand Test series

There are plenty of records that could be broken in the three-match Test series between Indian and New Zealand. While Ajinkya Rahane crossing 2,000 Test runs and Tim Southee going past the 200 Test wickets mark are milestones to look out for, they aren't records per se.

In fact, there are records, including some that have been there since the start of Test cricket that might be broken in the upcoming Test series. Here are 5 records that can be broken in the India-New Zealand Test series:

India registering their biggest Test series win over New Zealand

Virat Kohli may have won his first two away Test series as captain but India have always traditionally been poor travellers. While their record at home is impressive, they haven't always been as good on their travels, which is why it is surprising that their biggest Test series win over New Zealand came away from home.

Although India have beaten New Zealand in eight of their 10 home Test series, their best winning margin at home is just 2-0. In New Zealand, however, they have won a Test series by a 3-1 margin which remains their biggest win over the Kiwis in Tests.

That victory came in 1968, under the stewardship of Nawab of Pataudi. The four-match series began with Indian chasing 200 for victory comfortably in the first Test at Dunedin. Although they lost the second after being forced to follow-on, they won the third by eight wickets and completed the series win by thumping the hosts by 272 runs in the final Test.

Should Kohli's side claim a 3-0 series whitewash at home, not only would it be their best win over New Zealand at home but also their biggest Test series win over the Black Caps.

Most centuries by a New Zealand batsman in Tests

Which of the two will break the record?

The all-time record for the most centuries by a New Zealand batsman in Tests is held by the late Martin Crowe. The right-hander scored 17 Test centuries in a career that spanned 13 years and included 77 Tests and a tally of 5,444 runs at an average of 45.3. But now his record is under threat from not one but two Kiwi batsmen.

Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson are undoubtedly the two best batsmen in the current Kiwi side and it is those same two batsmen who are eyeing Martin Crowe's record haul of 17. While Taylor has 15 tons to his name, the Kiwi captain is just one behind, despite playing 21 Tests fewer.

Although run-scoring is unlikely to be easy in India, given both batsmen are both good players of spin, have a century to their name in the tour of Africa and are in good form, they stand a good chance of breaking that record in the upcoming Test series. Taylor, more so, because he has two centuries in his last four Tests.

While Williamson will undoubtedly have the record to himself by the time both players hang up their boots, it will be interesting to see who takes the record from Crowe and if it can be achieved against some quality spin bowling.

New Zealand winning their first Test series in India

Can Kane create history?

When New Zealand left on their travels, they were hoping to create history. While a 2-0 series win over Zimbabwe was to be expected, they were looking for their first Test series win in South Africa. But a combination of wet outfield and the return of a fiery Dale Steyn meant that they couldn't achieve that.

Now they turn their attention towards India, where they will be hoping to do something for the first time. Since their first Test series in 1955, New Zealand have made 10 trips to India for a Test series. However, in those 10 attempts, they have failed to win a single series. Their best result is a drawn series, which they managed to achieve twice.

Since losing their first Test series to India in 1955, they have drawn two series, in 1969 (1-1 in a three-match series) and 2003 (0-0 in a two-match series). Kane Williamson will be hoping to become the first Kiwi captain to win a series in India and if he does do it, it will be something to behold, especially given Kohli's start to captaincy.

Ravichandran Ashwin becoming fastest Asian bowler to 200 Test wickets

Thanks to problems with the outfield in the final Test against West Indies, Ravichandran Ashwin missed the opportunity to claim the world record for being the fastest to take 200 Test wickets. However, a good start to the Test series against New Zealand will give him the Asian record, which might come as scant consolation to the off-spinner.

Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett holds the record having achieved the milestone in just 36 Tests. Having played 36 Tests so far, Ashwin is on 193 wickets and is just seven wickets away from the mark. Should he claim seven wickets or more in the first Test against New Zealand, he will get there in 37 matches which will not only make him the second-fastest to the mark but also the fastest Asian bowler to get there.

The current Asian record is held by Waqar Younis, who got his milestone in 38 Tests. Coincidentally, he also got there against New Zealand in 1995. Can Ashwin add another record to his kitty, we will have our answer in less than two weeks.

Most consecutive Test series wins from captaincy debut by an Indian

Being an international captain is never easy. The amount of decisions you have to take and the pressure on your every move is immense, even more so in Tests, where you have nowhere you can hide. So getting a good start in your career as a Test captain is not as easy as it may seen. So it is not surprising that the most number of consecutive Test series by an Indian from captaincy debut is just three.

There have been four players who achieved that milestone (Ajit Wadekar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli). Ajit Wadekar was the first to do it when he won three successive series over West Indies (away), England (away) and England (home) in three years between 1971 and 1973.

Sourav Ganguly achieved it by beating Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Australia and MS Dhoni by beating England and Sri Lanka at home, in between their away win over New Zealand. Although Dhoni also won his fourth series against Bangladesh, he played and captained only one of two Tests in that series.

Kohli became the latest to join that list when he beat Sri Lanka, South Africa and West Indies. Should he beat New Zealand at home, he will become the first Indian to win four consecutive series since captaincy debut having played the whole series.