India vs New Zealand statistical preview: Kiwis eye maiden series win, hosts want to make it memorable 500

India and New Zealand will resume their cricketing rivalry on Thursday, with the first of their three-Test series starting in Kanpur. The series moves on to Kolkata and then to Indore for the next two Tests. But all signs point towards a win for the hosts, as New Zealand hasn’t won a single Test in India since 1989. Of the 31 Test matches played in India, New Zealand has won just two, losing 13 and drawing 16. The two sides have taken part in 10 series on Indian soil, and eight of these have gone in favour of the hosts, with two ending in draws. [caption id=“attachment_3014202” align=“alignnone” width=“713”]  India is not among New Zealand’s favourite places to tour[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014204” align=“alignnone” width=“737”]  New Zealand is still looking for its first series win in India[/caption] Not only is track record and history on the side of India, even recent form suggests Virat Kohli’s men will start favourites. They are unbeaten in their last 10 Tests, while New Zealand has had an up-and-down time of late, winning four, losing four and drawing two in the same period. [caption id=“attachment_3014228” align=“alignnone” width=“616”]  India has been on a fine run of late, winning seven out of its last 10 Tests[/caption] Most teams struggle to put up good performances in the sub-continent because they take time to adjust to the conditions here, and more often than not, that means they lose the opening games. New Zealand is no different in this regard. Of the 10 Test series New Zealand has played in India, it’s lost the opening Test five times, drawing it on five occasions. It’s yet to win the opening Test of a series in India. In five days’ time we will know if they have managed a first-time win in Kanpur. [caption id=“attachment_3014258” align=“alignnone” width=“664”]  New Zealand has never won the opening match of a Test series in India[/caption] In fact, it’s not just in India that New Zealand struggles to do well; the Kiwis have done poorly in Pakistan as well. New Zealand’s win-loss ratio of 0.153 from 21 matches in India is its worst among all the countries it has played Tests in, although it has an identical 0.153 ratio for Tests in Pakistan as well. Clearly, the challenges of playing on the sub-continent are something the Black Caps are yet to master. [caption id=“attachment_3014292” align=“alignnone” width=“643”]  New Zealand’s record in the different countries it has played Tests in[/caption] Both teams have relatively inexperienced captains, but India has done particularly well under Virat Kohli, under whose captaincy it has not lost a single Test at home. It’s Kohli’s leadership record that would spell further doom for Williamson and his men. [caption id=“attachment_3014296” align=“alignnone” width=“647”]  Virat Kohli has had a better record as captain than Kane Williamson[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014306” align=“alignnone” width=“503”]  The visitors will miss having Brendon McCullum in their ranks, as the former captain was their top run-getter against India[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014322” align=“alignleft” width=“675”]  Most Indian batsmen — ironically with the exception of middle-order mainstay Ajinkya Rahane — have averages above 40[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014324” align=“alignnone” width=“677”]  None of the Kiwis’ batsmen has an average of above 40 in India[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014334” align=“alignnone” width=“697”]  Ravi Ashwin has a stellar record on Indian pitches, and looks good to add to his 126 wickets on home soil[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014338” align=“alignnone” width=“673”]  Only two of the visitors’ bowlers — Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell — have prior experience of Indian conditions, and neither has done particularly well[/caption] The two teams have played two Tests at Kanpur before, one match going in India’s favour and the other ending in a draw. They have also played two Tests at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, and both Tests there have ended in draws. The third match, to be held at Indore’s Holkar Stadium, will be the first ever Test at the Madhya Pradesh city. [caption id=“attachment_3014348” align=“alignnone” width=“896”]  Draws have been the most common outcome in Tests between India and New Zealand at Kanpur and Kolkata[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3014354” align=“alignnone” width=“760”]  Draws have also been the most common outcome of all matches at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur, with 12 out of 21 matches here ending in draws[/caption]