Wellington Test match records: India don’t have the best of records in Test matches at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
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India are all set to begin their second overseas series of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. Having commenced the tournament in West Indies, India hosted South Africa and Bangladesh during their home season to reach the top of the points table in the Test Championship.
Speaking during the press conference in Wellington, India captain Virat Kohli acknowledged not playing in Australia or England in the Test championship. Kohli sounded aware of overseas Test matches in the championship being “pretty intense” and was looking forward to more result-oriented contests in the longer formats.
Neil Wagner will not be joining the squad in Wellington ahead of the first Test as he and his wife Lana await the birth of their first child. Wagner will remain in Tauranga until the birth. Matt Henry joins the squad tonight as cover. #NZvIND
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 19, 2020
Wellington Test match records
As far as India’s Test record in Wellington is concerned, they have won only one out of the seven matches which they’ve played at this venue. The sole victory had come back in 1968 when India defeated New Zealand 3-1 in their maiden tour to the country.
Talking in general about playing Test matches in New Zealand, India have won only one Test match since their maiden tour in 1968.
After winning their first Test in Wellington, India went on to lose the next four consecutive matches in 1976, 1981, 1998 and 2002.
It is worth mentioning that India did have the upper hand on the Wellington Test match in both 2009 and 2014 but strong resistance from the hosts saw them successfully drawing both the match.
The most recent instance in 2014 saw New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling share a monumental 352-run stand for the sixth wicket as New Zealand recovered from 94/5 to score 680/8 dec. in 210 overs.
India would be banking on gaining advantage at the Basin Reserve in the recent past to register their first Test victory at the venue since 1968.
Most runs for India at Basin Reserve – Virat Kohli (143).
Most wickets for India at Basin Reserve – Ishant Sharma (7).
