India-New Zealand test series: Fall from grace
India crashed to their first Test series defeat at home in 12 years with Mitchel Santner yet again exposing their frailties against quality spin bowling as the crushing 113-run defeat in the second match enervated the team’s pole position in the World Test Championship.
India retain top spot in WTC standings
India’s 113-run loss against New Zealand in the second Test gave a huge blow to their World Test Championship final hopes as they hold a very slim edge over second-placed Australia in the standings. Despite loss in the first two Tests against New Zealand, India continue to lead the standings with 98 points after 13 matches while Australia have 90 points to claim the second place. However, India’s points percentage dropped to 62.82 after the first series loss at home in over a decade. On the other hand, Aussies are not that behind in points percentage with 62.50. With the three-match series already in their kitty, Kiwis have climbed to the fourth spot
We’re immensely proud to be in the position of winning two Test matches here. A lot of New Zealand teams have come here over the past 69 years, I think it is, and in 13 series, to be the first team to win a series over here is immensely special. Tom Latham
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The loss signifies the end of India’s remarkable record of 18 consecutive bilateral home series victories, which stood as the longest such sequence for any team.
If the hosts endured their first defeat after 18 consecutive Test series victories, New Zealand celebrated their first ever series-victory on the Indian soil in nearly 70 years.
The Kiwis have been travelling to this part of the world since 1955 but Black Caps could never break the Indian citadel all these years.
Indian batters, once considered the best players of the spin bowling, danced to the tune of Santner, who dominated the home line-up with 13 wickets in the match, including seven in the first innings.
In pursuit of 359, Indian batters cut a sorry figure once again. The were were bowled out for 245 with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 77 and Ravindra Jadeja (42) being the only ones to resist the Kiwis.
India’s successive batting collapses, beginning with the historic low of 46 all-out in the first essay of Bengaluru Test which they lost by eight wickets, culminated with first series loss at home since 2012-13 when England vanquished them.
Kiwis broke India’s string of 18 consecutive Test series wins at home. It was also India’s only fourth Test series defeat in their own backyard since turn of the century.
The heavy defeat means that India stay on top in the WTC table with 98 points but their percentage points (62.82) got hit badly as Australia are now marginally behind at 62.50.
Before travelling to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, it was imperative for India to win the series at home and consolidate their top position to ensure that they make the WTC final.
India’s task has only got tougher now because of the sheer challenge Australia are going to pose before them.
On Saturday, facing an uphill battle to keep the series alive and safeguard their record, none of the specialist Indian batters barring the 22-year-old Jaiswal, who smashed a 65-ball 77, could withstand the challenge of Santner’s orthodox left-arm spin.
Santner’s (7/53 and 6/104) 13 wickets in the game heralded a remarkable triumph for New Zealand, who mastered the conditions and played better cricket than India to beat Rohit Sharma’s team in their own game.
