What are the milestones that can be broken during India vs New Zealand Test series?

India and New Zealand are all ready to battle it out in the upcoming three-match Test series. The first game of the series will be played in Bengaluru starting on Wednesday. Although the weather forecast isn’t great, fans will hope for some action to take place across the five days. 

New Zealand’s new Test skipper Tom Latham has said that he wants his team to play positive cricket. Latham before the series started said “It's an exciting challenge going over to India and once we can go over there hopefully we can play with a bit of freedom, a bit of no fear and try and take it to them. If we do that hopefully gives ourselves a good chance."

Gautam Gambhir while addressing the media on Monday said "Why do we need to hold on to people? If they can play the natural game, if they can get 400-500 runs in a day, why not? We will play it that way high risk, high reward, high risk, high failure. "Why do we need to hold on to people? If they can play the natural game, if they can get 400-500 runs in a day, why not? We will play it that way -- high risk, high reward, high risk, high failure."

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Here are the top milestones that are up for grabs during the upcoming India vs New Zealand series

1. Virat Kohli – on the cusp of massive records

Former India skipper Virat Kohli is just 53 runs adrift of becoming the 4th Indian batter to score 9000 runs and above in Test cricket. So far the batter has managed to score 8947 runs from 115 matches with an average of 48.89. The former Indian skipper has also scored 29 Test tons and needs 2 more tons to go past Sir Donald Bradman who has 30 Test centuries. 

2. R. Ashwin – looking to equal Jumbo records

India’s spin sensation Ravichandran Ashwin needs 1 more ten-wicket haul in the game to displace Anil Kumble. India’s former skipper has 8 ten-wicket haul with Ashwin having the same number. Ashwin also needs four wickets to go past Nathan Lyon who has got 531 Test wickets compared to Ashwin’s 527.

If Ashwin grabs 23 wickets in the series he will become the 2nd fastest to 550 test wickets. Muttiah Muralitharan achieved the feat in 94 games with Anil Kumble getting to the mark in 115 games. Ashwin has played just 102 games and is well on course to achieve the mark. 

3. Kane Williamson – Looking to add more records

Former Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson isn’t set to play the 1st game in Bengaluru. The 34-year-old might be back for the final two games in Pune and Mumbai. Williamson just needs 119 runs to become the first Kiwi batter to reach 9000 runs in Test cricket. The right-handed batter is the most successful from New Zealand with 8881 runs from 102 games with 32 centuries and 35 fifties. 

4. Rohit Sharma – On the verge of overtaking Nawab of Najafgarh 

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma needs 5 more sixes to go past Virender Sehwag as the most successful six hitter from India in Test cricket. Rohit Sharma currently has 87 sixes compared to Sehwag’s 91. If Rohit can hit 13 more sixes during the series he will become the first Indian batter to reach 100 sixes in Test cricket. 

Other records are up for grabs 

Tim Southee currently has 89 sixes in Test cricket and needs 3 more sixes to go past Virender Sehwag to take the 6th spot for the highest six hitters in this format. 

Former Kiwi skipper Southee has 382 Test wickets and needs just 18 more to become the 2nd New Zealand seamer to achieve 400 wickets. 

KL Rahul needs 31 runs to reach 3000 runs in Test cricket and he could do it in front of his home fans in Bengaluru. The right-handed batter has scored 2969 runs from 52 matches so far with an average of 34.52. 

Ravindra Jadeja just needs 23 wickets to reach 600 wickets in international cricket. The 35-year-old has 303 Test wickets along with 220 in ODI and 54 in T20I cricket. 

Tom Latham just needs 4 catches to reach 100 catches in Test cricket.