India leads the two-match Test series 1-0

Defeating New Zealand by an innings and 115 runs, India takes a 1-0 lead of the two-match Test series. The host nation has secured their victory within four days in the opening test on Sunday.

Off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, was the hero behind this victory. He led his team to a victory claiming a career-best 12 wickets in a Test match. For his superb performance in the match, he was announced “Player of the Match” award.

The 25-year-old got six wickets in each innings of the first Test match against New Zealand. He took six for 31 in New Zealand’s first innings, and finished the match grabbing 12 wickets for 85 runs.

Ashwin was backed by another spinner, Pragyan Ojha, who claimed 3 for 44 in the first innings and 3 for 48 in the second innings. Spin duo shared nine wickets in both innings.

Umesh Yadav was the only fast bowler to get one wicket in each innings.

The interesting thing is that only these three bowlers got wickets in New Zealand’s both innings.

India won the toss and elected to bat first. In their first innings they scored 438 losing all wickets. For New Zealand, Jeetan Patel claimed four wickets while Trent Boult got 3 wickets. However, both Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell got one wicket each.

After coming to chase India’s first innings, New Zealand got all out for 159. They needed to score more than 279 runs to invite India bat in the second innings. However, Indian bowlers bundled out New Zealand’s second innings for 164.