Stats: Teams with most consecutive Test series wins

In the last year and a half, Virat Kohli and men are on a record-breaking spree. India drew the Feroz Shah Kotla Test against Sri Lanka today to clinch the three-match series 1-0 and register their ninth successive Test series win. With this, India equaled the record of most successive Test series wins, joining Australia who won nine straight series from 2005 to 2008. India’s last Test series loss had come against Australia, on their home soil, back in December 2014.

India v Sri Lanka in 2015 (Away Series)

India’s winning campaign started off on 12th August 2015 when they toured Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series. The Test series was nothing short of dazzling as it went all down to the wire, and Indian team had ticked all their boxes and had to be at their best to clinch victory against Lankans on their home soil, who were a dangerous side back in 2015. The series finished with a scoreline 2-1, helping India to gain the lost momentum.

India v South Africa in 2015 (Home Series)

After finishing the series on a high, Indian Team were all set to play a home series against mighty South Africans, who were at there best then. A line up with big names had clear intentions to win the series, however, India had their plans set and were not letting the visitors dominate at their home soil. The Freedom Series between two nations was a four-match series, which went in India’s favour as India finished the series 3-0, with one match ending in a draw.

India v West Indies in 2016 (Away Series)

On 21 July 2016, India toured West Indies to play a four-match Test series, first under Anil Kumble’s guidance. The 2-0 win against West Indies, not only helped India notch up in the rankings but also helped skipper Virat Kohli to believe in himself that he has the ability to score big runs. This series helped Virat Kohli to register his first double hundred in Test Cricket.

India v New Zealand in 2016 (Home Series)

The series victory against West Indies ensured India to stay on top and started to capitalize one every opposition. New Zealand was the second team to tour India and one would have to say, India had too much firepower and managed to upstage the opposition quite easily. The three-match series ended in a whitewash.

India v England in 2016 (Home Series)

Number 9 again played a vital role, last time England toured India, the first Test was played on ‘9’ July 2014, where India had no answers what so ever and England were able to register a famous win with skipper Cook being the star of the series. However, this time around, the series again started on ‘9’ November 2016, but this time, it was India’s turn to switch the table. India registered a famous win, with not letting England dominate. Also, the five-match series had many stars, but the stand-out performer who made a name for himself was Parthiv Patel.

India v Bangladesh in 2016 (Home Series)

India then played a series against their neighbour, who was not only rising but were even able to make a name for themselves. Bangladesh Cricket Team in recent times has shown that they have the capability to upset any opposition, which led even a match series to be an exciting one. Though series didn’t go in Bangladesh’s favour, the match series was full of competitiveness.

India v Australia in 2017 (Home Series)

To keep their winning streak alive, Indian Team was expected to continue the good run as mighty Aussies were touring to India. A series between two nations is always expected to be a ruthless one, and as it was expected, Aussies started the series with a famous win at Pune, with skipper Steve Smith leading from the front. With Virat Kohli getting injured, it became all the more important for others to capitalize and not let Australia dominate. Fortunately, India recorded a famous win in the last Test match under Rahane’s captaincy, helping their streak to stay alive.

India v Sri Lanka in 2017 (Away Series)

Till now, India had won seven straight series win, and confidence was looming over. India was now all set to tour Sri Lanka where they did exceptionally well. It was for the first time that India didn’t let Lankans dominate even in a single match, and recored a whitewash there as well.

India v Sri Lanka in 2017 (Home Series)

Last, but not the least, the series which helped India join Australia was to be played between India and Sri Lanka, but this time, on Indian soil. With lights helping Sri Lanka to draw the first Test, Virat Kohli and men were too charged to take on the opposition at Nagpur where they went one up in the series. In the three-match series, the final match was set to be played at Feroz Shah Kotla, which ended in a draw, all due to some outstanding batting performances by Lankans in second innings.

Nonetheless, it helped India to register their ninth consecutive Test series win. Also, if India is able to analyze their weak areas, they definitely stand a chance to make it a double figure. We will have to wait and see, how India takes the series to come, but one would have to say, India has been able to outplay every opposition and they thoroughly deserve to be on top.

Table: Teams with most consecutive Test series wins

Stats updated till 6th December, 2017