India pulled off a brilliant all-round performance to defeat New Zealand in the second Test to clinch the three-Test series with an unassailable 2-0 lead which also propelled them to the top of the ICC rankings.
Virat Kohli’s men wrapped up the series-deciding victory on the fourth day of the match after setting the Black Caps a mammoth target of 376 runs to chase.
India’s outstanding show resulted in the disloging of arch-rivals Pakistan to claim the numero uno spot in the ICC Test rankings.
MEET THE NEW No.1 TEST SIDE – #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/q2a38mAYsl
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2016
Congratulatory messages started pouring in immediately…
Really like this India team. Kohli is my kinda captain. Pleased they are number one. Cricket needs India valuing Tests.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) October 3, 2016
I know captains say you are as good as the team but Virat Kohli was outstanding as captain in this test! Especially in the final innings.👏👏👏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 3, 2016
The journey to staying No1 begins in Indore. A resurgent Pakistan will be keen to close the gap. 2-0 or 3-0 means Pak-WI result irrelevant
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 3, 2016
Clinical, comprehensive win driven by skill and ambition. Well played @imVkohli @anilkumble1074 et al #TeamIndiaNo.1
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 3, 2016
Congratulations team #India on beating New Zealand by 178 runs and becoming world No.1 👍🏽🇮🇳 @BCCI #indvsnz
— Johny Lever (@iamjohnylever) October 3, 2016
The most satisfaction in an India test win is when the seamers take the most wickets. Excellent performance by Shami and Bhuvi! #IndvsNz
— Arup Ghose (@arup_ghose) October 3, 2016
The best part about India’s Eden Gardens win is not series or No 1, but the way almost everyone performed together as a team! #IndvsNZ
— ZENIA D’CUNHA (@ZENIADCUNHA) October 3, 2016
Ashwin,Saha,Jadeja,Pujara,Rahane,Rohit, Bhuvi, Shami-everyone performed. What a wonderful team display ! Back at No.1 in Test Ranking !
— Vipul (@Sporty_Baba) October 3, 2016
Kohli couldn’t contain his happiness at the end. Success he values the most is surely in Test cricket. Augurs well for India #INDvsNZ
— Narayanan S (@narayanantweaks) October 3, 2016
The only disappointing part in this entire victory is that India and Pakistan, which hold the top two rankings in test, won’t be competing with each other for the No. 1 spot.
Have India and Pakistan ever competed so closely for the No. 1 spot? Shame the two teams haven’t played each other in a decade
— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) October 3, 2016
As expected, soon after India secured no. 1 spot in test dethroning Pakistan, tweets mentioning or referring to terrorism and surgical strikes flooded the timeline.
Can’t see tweets about India surgically removing Pakistan from no. 1 spot in Tests. WTF! Don’t be so unpredictable, twitter. #INDvNZ
— Anish Anand (@anish_anand05) October 3, 2016
After India wins this test match, Pakistan will remain world number 1 only in terrorism. #IndvsNZ
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 3, 2016
Meanwhile Pak Is Saying, India’s Claim Of Becoming Number 1 Is False & The #INDvsNZ Match Never Happened.Saying “Show Us The Proof”. #INDvNZ
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) October 3, 2016
And of course, there’s always Mohandas Menon with some really interesting stats to sign it off.
India’s
131st win89th win at home20th win vs NZ15th win vs NZ at home12th win at Kolkata4th win in 201611th series win vs NZ#IndvNZ— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 3, 2016
14 LBWs in this Test match. The most in any match in India’s #250 Tests at home#IndvNZ
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 3, 2016
(Feature image source: Twitter | @IExpressSports)
