Team India on Monday (December 6) donated Rs 35000 to the Wankhede Stadium groundsmen after a win in the second Test match against New Zealand by 372 runs. It was India's biggest win by runs margin in Tests, going past the 337-run win over South Africa at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi in 2015.
The gesture was to appreciate the pitch at Wankhede as it turned out to be a very well-prepared wicket which offered enough to produce a good Test match. When England had toured India earlier this year, we saw the last two Test matches ending inside three days.
Earlier in Kanpur, India's newly appointed head coach Rahul Dravid had donated Rs 35,000 to Green Park’s ground staff as a token of appreciation. The Test match had ended in a hard-fought draw as India couldn't pick up New Zealand's last wicket on Day 5.
“I think it was good to finish the series as winners, came close in Kanpur, not able to get that last wicket, had to work hard here. This result seems one-sided, but right through the series, we were made to work hard,” Dravid said after win in Mumbai.
“There have been phases where we were behind and had to fight back, credit to the team. Great to see the boys stepping up and taking their opportunities,” he added.
In the coming days, India will tour South Africa for a three-match Test series, along with three ODIs and four T20I matches.
(Inputs from The Indian Express)
