New Zealand secured a historic 3-0 series victory over India by winning the third Test match. They restricted the hosts to 121 runs to claim a 25-run victory in Mumbai on Sunday.
India, chasing a target of 147 runs, were bowled out by New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, marking the first time India has been whitewashed in a home series since the year 2000 when they were defeated 2-0 by South Africa.
This defeat also ended India’s unbeaten streak in home series, which had lasted since 2012 when they were defeated by England.
Rishabh Pant showed resistance by scoring 64 runs after India stumbled to 29-5. However, Ajaz Patel’s exceptional performance with figures of 6-57, including a second five-wicket haul in the match, proved to be crucial for New Zealand.
“Spin bowling is all about rhythm. When you find your rhythm, you have to make the most of it, take charge, and contribute to your team’s success,” Patel commented on his performance.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma started well by hitting a boundary off Matt Henry in the opening over, but he could only manage 11 runs before being dismissed. Virat Kohli also fell cheaply, leaving India at a precarious 18-3. Despite a brief recovery, New Zealand continued to put pressure on India, ultimately winning the match.
New Zealand had previously won the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune by significant margins to clinch their first Test series victory in India.
“This series didn’t go as we hoped, and some of our strategies didn’t work out,” Sharma acknowledged. “I take responsibility for not performing well both as a captain and with the bat. As a team, we failed to deliver collectively.”
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