What Happened Last Time When India  Faced New Zealand In Test Cricket?

India and New Zealand [Source: @ImRo45_FC/X and @ICC/X]India and New Zealand [Source: @ImRo45_FC/X and @ICC/X]

India will face New Zealand in the first Test of a three-match series starting Wednesday, October 16, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The hosts are riding high after defeating Bangladesh in a two-match Test series last month and will aim to carry that momentum forward. 

New Zealand, however, will be looking to bounce back from their recent 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka in September. With the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final spot still in sight, the Kiwis will fight hard, though they’ll miss former captain Kane Williamson for the opener.

Ahead of the first Test, let’s revisit the thrilling encounter between these two teams the last time they faced off in the longer format.

India Beat New Zealand By 372 Runs

The last time India and New Zealand collided in a Test series was in 2021 when the Kiwis toured India for a T20I and Test series. The two-match Test series started with a competitive draw in Kanpur. However, the second Test, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, was a completely different story. India dominated the second Test from start to finish, winning by a massive margin of 372 runs.

This win handed India a 1-0 series victory and marked their biggest Test victory in terms of runs at home, surpassing the previous record of a 337-run win against South Africa in Delhi in 2015.

Virat Kohli’s team showcased a top-notch performance, with their spinners leading the way. On the fourth morning, Jayant Yadav dismantled New Zealand’s batting line-up, taking 4-49. Ravichandran Ashwin also bagged 4-34, wrapping up the Kiwis' second innings for just 167. The visitors had been chasing a daunting target of 540 but fell well short.

The Test lasted only four days, with India taking just 43 minutes on the final morning to claim the remaining five New Zealand's wickets, securing a memorable win.

Despite the heavy loss, the match featured a historical moment for New Zealand. Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in a single innings, finishing the match with exceptional figures of 14/225.

On the Indian side, Mayank Agarwal stole the show with the bat, scoring 150 in the first innings and a brisk 62 in the second, ensuring India stayed on top throughout the game.