India's First Overseas Test Series Win — Dunedin, February 1968

India had been an established Test team since 1932 but had never won a Test series outside the subcontinent. Twelve overseas series — eight in England, two in Australia, two in West Indies — had produced no series wins. The 1967-68 tours of Australia and New Zealand were the most ambitious back-to-back trips ever undertaken by India.

India had been beaten 4-0 in Australia immediately before. Several frontline batsmen were injured. New Zealand were not strong but had home advantage and a settled side.

India had toured Australia immediately before New Zealand, losing 4-0. Several leading players — Borde, Manjrekar, Sardesai — had broken down injured. The squad that crossed the Tasman to New Zealand was depleted, untested, and given little chance by the visiting press.

Pataudi's tactical approach was unconventional. New Zealand's pitches were expected to favour seam; the Indian thinking had always been that a touring side needed at least three quicks. Pataudi played three spinners regardless. Prasanna's off-spin would do the bulk of the work; Bedi's left-arm orthodox would attack from the other end; Bapu Nadkarni's tight left-arm spin would dry up runs and create pressure. The all-rounders Surti and Joshi handled the new ball.

The first Test at Dunedin was the breakthrough. New Zealand made 350; India 359. Prasanna took 6 for 94 in the second innings to bowl New Zealand out for 208. India needed 200 to win and got there for the loss of five wickets, with Wadekar making 71 and Pataudi 22. The Carisbrook stands held a fair contingent of Indian students from Otago University; their celebrations after the winning runs were captured by New Zealand television.

New Zealand levelled the series at Christchurch. India then won at Wellington and Auckland to take the series 3-1. Wadekar was the leading run-scorer with 328 at 65.60; Prasanna the leading wicket-taker with 22 at 18.81. Pataudi himself contributed 339 runs at 56.50. The flight home from Auckland was met at Bombay airport by tens of thousands of supporters. The Indian Cricket Board declared a national day of celebration. Pataudi was 27.

“We had to play to our strengths, and our strengths were spin. New Zealand made it possible.”

Pataudi held the captaincy until 1970. India's overseas record continued to improve through the 1971 series wins in West Indies and England under Wadekar — a continuation of the tactical template Pataudi had built. New Zealand themselves did not become a strong Test team until the early 1970s.