Series Overview and Historic Victory
New Zealand achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory in the Test series against India by winning the third and final Test on Sunday. They bowled India out for just 121 runs on a tough pitch, winning by 25 runs on the third day at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
This loss means India faced a rare home series defeat, the first since South Africa beat them 2-0 in 2000. The defeat adds pressure on captain Rohit Sharma team as they prepare for a five-Test series against Australia starting later this month.
Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batsman to make a notable contribution, scoring 64 runs after India fell to 29-5 on a spinning Wankhede pitch. New Zealand Ajaz Patel was the star of the match, taking six wickets for 57 runs, marking his second five-wicket haul in this Test. Glenn Phillips also played a key role, taking 3-42 to help the Black Caps secure a famous win.
Daryl Mitchell, who scored a solid 82 in the first innings, said, "It’s incredibly special to win a Test series 3-0 here at such a historic venue. It’s a dream come true to achieve something this big against such a top-class Indian team. We’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world.
A Historic Series Win for New Zealand
New Zealand success in this series included their first Test win in India in 36 years. They dominated the first Test in Bengaluru, winning by eight wickets, and then secured the series with a 113-run victory in Pune. This series win, New Zealand first in India since 1955, also ended India's 18-series home winning streak, which had lasted since a 2-1 defeat to England in 2012.
A Day-by-Day Breakdown of the Final Test
In the final Test, Rohit Sharma started the day aggressively with a boundary off Matt Henry, but his poor form continued as he was dismissed for 11 after a careless shot. Patel quickly bowled out Shubman Gill, who had impressed with 90 runs in the first innings but scored just one run in the second.
Virat Kohli innings was brief; he edged a ball from Patel to slip for just one run, leaving India struggling at 18-3 on a challenging surface. The crowd was disappointed as Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw by Phillips, and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss straight to Rachin Ravindra, getting out for a single.
Ravindra Jadeja and Pant provided some relief with a 42-run partnership, but a brilliant catch by Will Young sent Jadeja back, leaving India in trouble at 71-6. Pant eventually got out after a New Zealand review overturned the original decision, despite him thinking he hadn't edged the ball.
After Pant dismissal, India batting collapsed, with Washington Sundar as the last wicket, trying to play a big shot but getting caught.
Post-Match Reflections
After the loss, Rohit Sharma said, Losing a series and a Test is hard to take. We didn’t play our best cricket, and New Zealand outperformed us in all games. As captain, I wasn’t at my best, both in leading the team and with the bat.
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