India-New Zealand Test Series: Fall from grace

New Zealand capped a tough tour of Asia with an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep in India, while the bruised and battered home side will face uncomfortable questions ahead of their trip to Australia for five Tests.

The Black Caps’ spinners ran riot on a challenging wicket to dismiss India for 121 in the second innings and secure a famous 25-run victory on the third day of the third and final Test.

The last time India were blanked at home was in 2000, in a two-match series against South Africa, and Rohit Sharma’s side were totally outplayed by the tourists in different conditions.

“We’re ecstatic. Looking back to the start of the series to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Tests,” said New Zealand’s new permanent skipper Tom Latham, who took over after a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka.

“We spoke about it after each Test match, trying to back it up, and I guess to finally do it here in Mumbai on a completely different surface, one that challenged us with bat and ball, we’re pretty happy. Just being able to adapt to each ground... Different guys stood up at different times. That’s the beauty of team sport. It was an all-round great team effort. I’m proud of the guys,” he added.

India dropped to second below Australia in the World Test Championship table and will need a big effort to reach a third straight final next year.

Rishabh Pant was the lone Indian batsman to show resistance as he made a sublime 64 after the hosts were reduced to 29/5 on a turning Wankhede Stadium pitch.

Mumbai-born Player-of-the-match Ajaz Patel finished with 6/57, his second five-wicket haul in the match, while fellow spinner Glenn Phillips took 3/42 to help skittle the hosts for a low score again in the series.

“It’s seriously special first of all to win a Test match here at this historic ground but also to win a series 3-0,” said Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings. “It’s something you dream of. To come over here and actually achieve it is pretty special against a world class Indian team. We’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world.”

The tourists blew India away with pace to win the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first Test victory in India in 36 years, and wrapped up the series days later on a turning wicket in Pune with a 113-run win.

Confidence dented

In Mumbai, New Zealand kept cool in oppressive heat and humidity to dismantle India, leaving the hosts’ confidence dented before they face Australia from November 22.

New Zealand’s maiden series triumph in India going back to 1955 also snapped the hosts’ home streak of 18 straight series wins since a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.

Rohit threw the first punch by stepping out of his crease to hit Matt Henry for a four in the first over, but the skipper’s disappointing recent run of form continued as he fell for 11 after a rash shot against the same bowler. He now has only one half-century in 10 innings, with six single-digit scores.

Patel made it two wickets in two overs as Shubman Gill, who had scored a splendid 90 in the first innings, left a ball that crashed into the stumps and departed for one. The out-of-form Virat Kohli did not last long after arriving at the crease as he edged Patel to slip on one.

The crowd fell silent again as Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw for five by Glenn Phillips and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel straight to Rachin Ravindra in the deep on one.

Ravindra Jadeja steadied the ship alongside Pant in a 42-run stand, but a stunning catch by Will Young meant India were on the ropes at 71/6. Patel dismissed Pant following a New Zealand review after lunch, although the batsman appeared to suggest that he had not made contact with the ball before it was caught. The runs dried up after that and India collapsed in a heap, with Washington Sundar the last to go while looking to go big.

“Losing a series, losing a test match is never easy. It’s not easily digested. But we didn’t play our best cricket and we accept that. New Zealand played better than us throughout,” Rohit said.

“There were a lot of mistakes that we made, we accept it... As a captain, I wasn’t at my best leading the team and with the bat as well.”

‘Batters’ form worrying’

The disastrous performance of the batters is certainly a cause of concern for India, admitted Rohit Sharma, but the skipper promised that the team will fight to deliver something special in Australia. “If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern,” he said. “What is done, is done now. We have to look forward and see how we can correct what we didn’t manage to achieve here. There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really special in Australia,” he added. PTI

Race to WTC final

India conceded their top place in the World Test Championship standings to Australia and now they need to win at least four games in their five-match series Down Under to stay in the race for the final. To secure a place in the final, India must achieve a 4-0 victory. Even a 2-3 loss could leave a slim chance for second place, provided New Zealand draw with England and South Africa draw 1-1 at home in both their remaining series.

Something like this will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home.

I take full responsibility as a captain. As a leader, I’ve not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series. With the bat as well, I’ve not been good enough. —Rohit Sharma, India captain

We’re ecstatic. Looking back to the start of the series to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job. —Tom Latham, NZ Skipper

Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection. Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection, or was it lack of match practice? Full credit to New Zealand for their consistent performance. —Sachin Tendulkar

To win in India is incredible but to deliver a clean sweep is remarkable... has to be the greatest ever Test series victory. —Michael Vaughan

Cricket truly is a humbling sport, isn’t it? Just months after our T20 World Cup win, we face a historic whitewash. Bigger tests lie ahead with the Australia series. —Yuvraj Singh

1 It’s the first instance of India being whitewashed at home in a Test series of three or more matches. India were blanked only twice before — 2-0 by South Africa in 2000 and 1-0 by England in 1980. This is the first instance of India losing three Tests in a series at home since 1983. This is also the first time New Zealand have won three matches in a Test series

4 Number of defeats in 10 home Tests for India in 2024, the joint-highest for them — it also happened in 1969

5 Rohit Sharma now has five Test defeats at home as captain, the second-highest for India behind MAK Pataudi’s nine