IND vs NZ 2021: 5 memorable bowling performances by Indians in Tests against New Zealand

Having eased their way to a 3-0 triumph in the T20I series against New Zealand, India are gearing up for the two-match Test series, which begins with the first Test at the Green Park in Kanpur on November 25.

With Virat Kohli being rested for the first Test, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team in Kanpur. For the Kiwis, Kane Williamson will be back as skipper after opting out of the T20Is.

India and New Zealand have met in 60 Tests so far, out of which the Indians have won 21 and the visitors 13. 26 Tests between the two teams have ended in a draw. India have an impressive record against New Zealand at home, having won 16 and lost only two Tests.

The last time India and New Zealand met in a Test match was during the World Test Championship (WTC) final, when the Kiwis thumped Virat Kohli and co. with ease.

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Famous spells by Indians against New Zealand in Test matches

There have been some excellent bowling performances by Indians against New Zealand in Test matches over the years. We pick five of the best.

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#1 Erapalli Prasanna (3/64 & 8/76) - Auckland, 1976

Former India off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna

Legendary off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna came up with a sensational bowing effort of 8 for 76 in the second innings to set up India’s famous win at Auckland in January 1976. After India responded with 414 to New Zealand’s first innings score of 266, Prasanna ran through the Kiwi batting line-up, setting up a thumping eight-wicket triumph.

On a pitch that had assistance for spinners, Prasanna sent back openers John Morrison (23) and Glenn Turner (13) cheaply. However, Bevan Congdon and John Parker (70) resisted and frustrated the Indians.

New Zealand were 161 for 2 at one stage. But the guile of Prasanna saw him dismiss both the set batters. The other Kiwi batters were no match for the spinner’s genius. India then eased to a simple target of 68.

Prasanna claimed three wickets in the first innings as well, while Bhagwath Chandrasekhar stood out with six scalps. Sunil Gavaskar (116) and debutant Surinder Amarnath (124) were India’s batting heroes in the first innings. After that, it was time for the Prasanna spectacle.

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#2 Ravichandran Ashwin (6/81 & 7/59) - Indore, 2016

Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Pic: Getty Images

New Zealand batters had no answer to Ravichandran Ashwin during the Indore Test in October 2016. This was the third match of the three-match series, which India won 3-0. Batting first after winning the toss, India posted a mammoth 557 for 5 declared as skipper Virat Kohli top-scored with 211, while Ajinkya Rahane hit a career-best 188.

New Zealand were held to 299 as Ashwin claimed six. The Kiwis got off to a solid start and added 118 for the opening wicket before Ashwin had Tom Latham (53) caught and bowled with a teasing off-break.

He then forced Williamson (8) to drag a cut onto the stumps. Ross Taylor and Luke Ronchi both perished to Ashwin without scoring, while Martin Guptill (72) was run-out by the offie as he backed up too far at the non-striker’s end.

A Cheteshwar Pujara century in the second innings set New Zealand a herculean target of 475 to win the Test. With the cushion of runs, Ashwin feasted on the Kiwi batters and put them under immense pressure.

He trapped Williamson (27) lbw and cleaned up Taylor (32) and Ronchi (15). Ashwin then ran through the lower-order to finish with 7 for 59 from 13.5 overs, his career-best figures, as India won the Test by 321 runs.

#3 Srinivas Venkataraghavan (8/72 & 4/80) - Delhi, 1965

Former India skipper Srinivas Venkataraghavan

Former captain and off-spinner Srinivas Venkataraghavan ran through New Zealand’s batting order with figures of 8/72 and 4/80 in the 4th Test of the four-match series in March 1965. New Zealand decided to bat first after winning the toss, but Venkataraghavan’s guile saw them crumble to 262.

The off-spinner claimed 8 for 72 in 51.1 overs. The standout aspect of his spell was that, except one, all of his dismissals in New Zealand’s first innings came via the bowled and lbw modes.

Venkataraghavan sent back openers Graham Dowling and Terry Jarvis and also dismissed top-scorer Ross Morgan (82). New Zealand’s middle and lower-order couldn’t offer much resistance.

India replied with 465 for 8 declared, courtesy of hundreds from Dilip Sardesai and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. Venkataraghavan chipped in with four wickets in the second innings as well as New Zealand were cleaned up for 272. India then chased down the target of 70 with seven wickets in hand.

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#4 Anil Kumble (4/67 & 6/67) - Kanpur, 1999

Anil Kumble celebrates a wicket. Pic: Getty Images

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble played a stellar role in India’s eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the Kanpur Test in October 1999. The Kiwis batted first after winning the toss, but only managed to put up a total of 256.

Javagal Srinath (3/62) got the key wickets at the top while Kumble dismissed Craig Spearman (12) before returning to dismantle the tail. In response, India made 330 with openers Devang Gandhi and Sadagoppan Ramesh scoring 88 and 83 respectively. The hosts were 162 for no loss at one stage, but Daniel Vettori’s six-for led to a middle and lower-order batting collapse.

Kumble ensured India regained ascendancy in the second innings. He trapped both openers Matt Horne (3) and Matthew Bell (7) leg before and also cleaned up nightwatchman Dion Nash (0) first ball. New Zealand were reeling at 17 for 3 after 13 overs.

Kumble later added the big scalps of Nathan Astle (0) and Craig McMillan (31) as the Kiwis folded up for 155. India chased down the target of 83 in 18.2 overs as Gandhi remained unbeaten on 31 and Sachin Tendulkar on 44.

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#5 Ishant Sharma (6/51) - Wellington, 2014

Ishant Sharma bowls during the 2014 Wellington Test. Pic: Getty Images

Team India pacer Ishant Sharma exploited the conditions brilliantly to claim 6 for 51 in the first innings of the Wellington Test in February 2014. India cleaned up New Zealand for 192 after winning the toss and bowling first.

Ishant sent back both the Kiwi openers. Hamish Rutherford (12) was undone by a well-directed bouncer while Peter Fulton (13) was trapped in front with an incoming delivery.

Ishant then dismissed Tom Latham for a duck on his Test debut as the left-hander nicked a delivery that seamed away. Corey Anderson, BJ Watling and Tim Southee also fell to the lanky Indian pacer. Mohammed Sham claimed the other four wickets as the visitors put up a dominant bowling effort.

A hundred from Ajinkya Rahane and 98 from Shikhar Dhawan saw India post 438 in their first innings. The Kiwis were under tremendous pressure in their second innings. However, Brendon McCullum scored a sensational triple hundred while Watling and James Neesham scored centuries as New Zealand recovered to draw the Test. Ishant went wicketless in the second innings, sending down 45 overs.