What a Test series it had been! Full of thrilling moments and records galore – at Kanpur, the visitors halted a red hot Indian unit while at Mumbai, despite, an epic landmark by Ajaz Patel of New Zealand, India raced to a 372-run victory. Patel was the lone star from the visitors’ camp as his efforts were heavily undermined by the Kiwi batters – India remain on top.

India decided to bat on Day 1 and Mayak Agarwal put India in a commendable position with a fluent hundred whereas  Ajaz was the only bowler who set jitters in the Indian batting lineup – the rest of the bowlers of New Zealand simply lacked penetration.

Ajaz cashed in with three wickets in two overs – including those of the skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara for ducks. India had lost 3 for 0 at that point and when the left-arm orthodox struck again to dismiss first Test’s hero Shreyas Iyer – India were 160 for 4.

Agarwal and Wriddhiman Saha – both of whom might not have been certainties in India’s XI ahead of this Test – then forged an unbroken 61-run partnership to push the total up to 221 for 4 at stumps on a truncated opening day at the Wankhede Stadium due to wet outfield.

On Day 2, Mumbai-born Ajaz created history by bagging all the ten wickets of an innings since Anil Kumble’s perfect 10 against Pakistan at New Delhi in 1999.

Then he watched New Zealand’s batters also make history b being shot out for 622 runs!.

Ajaz’s mammoth effort of 10 for 119 in 47.5 overs with 12 maidens had kept India to 325 all out in their first innings, but the reply of Kiwis was frustrating – they were shot out for 62 in just 28.1 overs, and Virat Kohli opted to give his batters time in the middle so didn’t enforce the follow-on.

At stumps on the second day, India were 69 without loss, a lead of 332 and beyond the possibility of anything other than victory.

On Day 3, Ajaz bagged 14 of the 17 Indian wickets to fall in the Mumbai Test, but the hosts continued to boss the game, setting New Zealand an improbable 540 after declaring on 276 for 7.

Ravi Ashwin then cracked open the visitors’ top order, leaving his side five wickets away from victory at stumps.

On Day 4, Jayant Yadav struck thrice in the first half-hour of the fourth morning and four times in nine legal deliveries to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 49, as India wrapped up their biggest win in terms of runs – 372 – and also handed New Zealand their biggest loss.

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The result sealed the series 1-0 for the hosts who also regained the Number 1 spot in ICC Test rankings, with New Zealand in second place now.

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