India v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1 - Statistical Highlights

The coin once again flipped Virat Kohli’s way in the 2nd Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and he did the expected; elected to bat first. Team India made a couple of changes in the playing XI as Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar walked in, New Zealand had three changes with Henry Nicholls, Jeetan Patel and Matt Henry getting a game. The Kiwi bowlers were good to start with as they shook the Indians up with early blows and thus the first session belonged to the visitors.

On the back of the partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane the hosts made a comeback in the middle session but towards the end of the day as wickets fell in clusters the Black Caps pulled things back up to end the day with an advantage. At 239/7 with Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja on the crease, the Indians would at least want to stretch the first innings total to 300. Here we take a look at the stats and records of the first day of the second Test.

1 – This is first, time since 1987 a Test match is being played at the Eden Gardens without Sachin Tendulkar. He featured in all of the last 13 Tests played at the venue.

2 – This is only the second Test that Kane Williamson has missed in his career. Before this game, he had missed the Test at Dunedin Dec 2013 vs WI (drawn).

How did Twitter react? – Twitter Reactions: New Zealand nose ahead at the end of day 1

5 – Number of scores of 50 or more for Pujara in first-class cricket this month. He scored 166, 31 and 259* in Duleep Trophy and 62 and 78 in the last Test. He was dismissed for 87 in the first inning.

7 – Number of consecutive tosses Team India has won at home in Tests, including this match. Before this streak they had won more tosses in a row at home only once – 9 from 1961-1964.

12 – Cheteshwar Pujara has the most 50+ scores in India in Tests since 01 January 2010. He leads the list: Pujara – 12*, Sehwag – 11, Sachin – 11, Kohli – 10, Dhoni – 8, M Vijay – 7.

23 – Shikhar Dhawan’s average in home Tests since his 187 on debut. In 11 innings since he has scored only 207 runs with highest being an unbeaten 45.

38 – Number of Tests Ravichandran Ashwin took to complete the double of 1500 runs and 200. He took the least no. of games here is how the list looks like – R Ashwin – 38, I Botham – 41, R Hadlee – 44, Imran Khan – 45.

87 – Indian skipper Virat Kohli has scored only 87 runs in the six Test innings since his double ton against West Indies. He has scores of – 44, 3, 4, 9, 18, 9.

90+ – Ajinkya Rahane averages more than 90 in the 2nd Test of a series. Eight of his 16 fifty plus scores and four of his seven centuries have come in 2nd Tests.

141 – The partnership between Pujara and Rahane today is the highest partnership for the 4th wicket for India in Tests at the venue.

Also check out – India v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day 1 – 5 Talking Points

175 – Wickets by Jeetan Patel in first-class matches since the start of 2015. These are the most by any bowler. This is his first Test since January 2013.

250 – This is the 250^th home Test for Team India and the 2222nd Test overall.

1965 – It was in March 1965 i.e. 51 yrs ago that New Zealand played a Test at Kolkata.

1999 – It was in 1999 that three or more wickets fell in the first session of a Test at Eden Gardens before this game. Pakistan lost 6 wickets in Feb 1999. Team India lost 3 wickets today.