Twitter User Points Out An Interesting Coincidence About India vs NZ First Test In 2016 And 2021
Team India settled for a draw in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur. In the last hour or so, India looked comfortable in the course for a win. However, the tenth wicket partnership of New Zealand denied the Indians a crucial victory. With this, both teams will now head to Mumbai with the series on the line. In this article, we take a look at an interesting coincidence about India vs NZ first Test in 2016 and 2021 as pointed out by a Twitter user.
India settles for a draw at Kanpur
After chipping away at the wickets’ column at the end of Day 4, many predicted that it would be an easy job for the Indians on Day 5. However, the duo of Tom Latham and William Somerville frustrated the Indians. That said, after the likes of Kane Williamson fell, India had the game in its hands. They continually kept tak ing wickets, but just could not break the last partnership between debutante Rachin Ravindra and No.11 batsman Ajaz Patel. In the end, India had to settle for a draw.
A coincidence between India vs NZ first Test in 2016 and 2021
After the game concluded, a Twitter user pointed out a few interesting coincidences between the India vs New Zealand game in 2016 and 2021. Both these games were the first Test match of the Indian home series and these encounters were held at Kanpur.
Test matches in India with 80+ overs batted in all four innings, during last 15 years:
IND v NZ at Kanpur, 2016
IND v NZ at Kanpur, 2021Both are in the 1st Test of India's last two home series against New Zealand, and at the same ground.#INDvNZ
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 29, 2021
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Incidentally, in the last 15 years of the games held in India, only two games had all the four innings in which batters survived for more than 80 overs. These were India vs New Zealand games at Kanpur in 2016 and 2021. While the 2016 game ended in an India win, the 2021 encounter finished as a draw. The 2016 game saw 97, 95.5, 107.2 and 87.3 overs bowled respectively in the four innings, the 2021 game witnessed 111.1, 142.3, 81 and 98 overs being bowled. Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, and Kane Williamson were part of both encounters.
