Team India got their 2024-25 home cricket season off to a winning start, beating Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test in Chennai that ended on Sunday. The two-match Test series against the Tigers is part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, making each of the remaining nine matches in the current cycle vital for India.
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The second Test between the two Asian giants will be played at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur from 27 September. For India, that Test will be followed by three Tests against New Zealand at home and a five-match series against Australia Down Under later this year.
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Ravichandran Ashwin stole the show against Bangladesh at his Chepauk home ground, hitting a century in the first innings and collecting a six-fer in the second innings. Rishabh Pant scored a century on his Test cricket return, whereas Shubman Gill also registered a ton. Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored fifties in the first innings. India will be looking to seal the series in Kanpur.
When was the last time India played a Test in Kanpur?
The previous time India played a Test in Kanpur was against New Zealand in 2021. The Test match took place from 25 November to 29 November 2021 and the match ended in a thrilling draw. India had won the toss and opted to bat on Day one. Shreyas Iyer scored a magnificent century, and fifties from Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja led India to 345. Tim Southee was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with figures of 5/69.
Impact Shorts
View AllNew Zealand began their first innings on Day 2 and ended the day on 129/0, with Tom Latham and Will Young scoring fifties. However, on Day three, Axar Patel (5/62) and R Ashwin (3/82) stole the show to dismiss the Black Caps for 296. This meant that India had a lead of 49 runs going into the second innings.
India began their second innings on the third day and declared their innings at 234/7 on Day four, with Shreyas Iyer and Wriddhiman Saha scoring fifties. The visitors were set a target of 284 and began their chase towards the end of the fourth day. Regular wickets from Ashwin (3/35) and Ravindra Jadeja (4/40) meant New Zealand were restricted to 126/5 at one stage.
India looked set for a victory in Kanpur, but bad light meant that play on the final day ended 12 minutes early with New Zealand finishing at 165/9 to secure a thrilling draw. Rachin Ravindra was unbeaten on 18 whereas Ajaz Patel was not out on 2.
India’s Test match record in Kanpur
India have played 23 Test matches at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, winning seven matches and losing three. As many as 13 Tests that India have played at the venue ended in draws.