A Historic First For New Zealand, Santner’s Feat & A New Low For India’s Batters

6 min read
Oct 27, 2024, 12:11 PM
Mitchell Santner of New Zealand celebrates with his teammates

Mitchell Santner of New Zealand celebrates with his teammates (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

 

New Zealand achieved the impossible conquering the final frontier, defeating the fancied Indian team by 113 runs in Pune, to achieve their first Test series victory ever in India. It was the first home series defeat for India in 12 years leaving them and their fans shell-shocked. From Rachin Ravindra’s hundred in Bengaluru to Mitchell Santner’s record-breaking performance in Pune to the struggle of India’s top-order against spin, RG looks at some numbers which define New Zealand’s spectacular performance in the series.

New Zealand’s first series win in India

New Zealand recorded their first Test series win in India in their 13th attempt. They had lost 10 and drawn two of their previous 12 series in the country. It was also India’s first home series loss since losing to England in 2012. India had won a record 18 successive home series in this period which is a world record.

New Zealand became the sixth visiting team to defeat India in India. England and the West Indies have achieved the feat on five occasions each, while Australia has triumphed four times in India. New Zealand joins Pakistan and South Africa, which have registered one series win in India.

Santner’s special feat

Mitchell Santner wreaked havoc on the Indian batting line-up and tormented them in Pune, returning with 13 wickets in the match. His figures of 13-157 were the third-best bowling figures in New Zealand’s Test cricket history after Richard Hadlee’s 15-123 against Australia at The Gabba in 1985 and Ajaz Patel’s 14-225 against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2021.

Only two bowlers have better figures in India than Santner in Test cricket. Ajaz Patel bagged 14 wickets in Mumbai in 2021 whereas Ian Botham returned with a match-haul of 13-106 also at the Wankhede in 1980.

New Zealand spinners outshine India  

New Zealand spinners have picked a combined 21 wickets in Bengaluru and Pune at an average of 25.66 and strike rate of 37.9. Their efforts include two fifers and one 10-wicket haul. On the other hand, their more famous Indian counterparts have underperformed. Although they have a higher tally of 26 wickets in the series, the dismissals have come at an average of 27.92 and strike rate of 45.2 with one fifer and ten-wicket haul.

Not a good year for India at home

India has now lost three Test matches in their own conditions in 2024 – England defeated them by 28 runs in Hyderabad in January before New Zealand’s twin wins in Bengaluru and Pune. Only twice before in their Test history has India lost three (or more) Tests at home – they lost four matches in 1969 and three in 1983.

Kohli’s struggles against spin

One of the biggest reasons for India’s defeat in the series was the indifferent form of Virat Kohli. Kohli has struggled against spin and was dismissed by the New Zealand slower bowlers three times in four innings.

He has faced 101 deliveries of spin in the series and scored just 63 runs at an average of 21.

Kohli has poor numbers against spinners since 2022. He has been dismissed 18 times in 24 innings against their ilk at an average of 32.38. In contrast, his numbers against pace are much better in this time-period with 13 dismissals in 21 innings at an average of 46.

India’s spin woes

Indian batters have traditionally been excellent players of spin bowling and have dominated against the slower bowlers across the world. However, that trend seems to be changing and the famed Indian line-up has had massive issues against visiting spinners since 2021. India’s batting average against spin in this time-frame is 34.26 which places them at number 5 after Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan.  

Jaiswal shines for India

One of the big positives for India, even in a humiliating loss against New Zealand at home, is the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-hander counter-attacked New Zealand in the fourth innings in Pune and smashed  

77 off just 65 deliveries in a knock which included nine hits to the fence and three over it. Jaiswal now has an aggregate of 1056 runs in 9 Tests (17 innings) in India in 2024 – that is the highest aggregate for an Indian batter at home in a calendar year!

Nikhil Narain is a die-hard cricket romantic, published author, and has worked for some of the leading digital websites and broadcasters in India and overseas. An alumnus of the London School of Economics, Nikhil's forte is using data and numbers creatively to weave interesting stories and revolutionize the way cricket statistics are generated and analyzed.

Interests:
ICC
IPL
Ashes

More Cricket News

Our Authors

Brendon R. Elliott
Brendon R. Elliott
Lead Golf Writer

Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.

Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.

Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Aaron WIlson
Aaron WIlson
NFL Reporter

Aaron Wilson is an award-winning Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and www.click2houston.com. He has covered the NFL since 1997, including previous stints for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. This marks his 10th year covering the Texans after previously covering a Super Bowl winning team in Baltimore. He has also covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. A Washington, D.C. native, Wilson played college football at East Carolina University where he was a linebacker. Aaron and his wife live in Houston and enjoy traveling and trying new restaurants.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Show More