New Zealand achieved an extraordinary 3-0 series sweep in India, as the Black Caps secured a 25-run victory over the hosts on day three of the third and final test in Mumbai on Sunday. This marked the first time India had been swept at home since 2000, when they lost a two-match series to South Africa. Rohit Sharma’s team now faces the daunting task of a five-match series against Australia later this month.
Rishabh Pant was the sole Indian batsman to offer significant resistance, scoring a commendable 64 after India had slumped to 29-5 on a challenging Wankhede Stadium pitch. Ajaz Patel, the player of the match, took 6-57, his second five-wicket haul in the series, while Glenn Phillips contributed with 3-42, further weakening the Indian batting lineup.
Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings, expressed his delight, saying, “It’s truly special to win a test match at this historic ground and even more so to win the series 3-0. It’s a dream come true to achieve this against a world-class Indian team.”
The tourists started strong with an eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru, their first test win in India in 36 years, and sealed the series in Pune with a 113-run win. This marked New Zealand’s first series triumph in India since 1955, breaking India’s streak of 18 consecutive home series victories since their 2-1 loss to England in 2012.
Rohit Sharma’s early aggression was short-lived as he fell for 11, continuing his recent poor form. Patel’s double strike in two overs saw Shubman Gill depart for one, and Virat Kohli followed soon after, leaving India struggling at 18-3. The crowd’s silence was deafening as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan fell cheaply, leaving India reeling at 71-6.
Ravindra Jadeja and Pant’s 42-run partnership provided some stability, but a brilliant catch by Will Young left India in dire straits. Patel’s dismissal of Pant after lunch, following a New Zealand review, further dampened Indian spirits. The runs dried up, and India collapsed, with Washington Sundar the last to fall.
Sharma acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “Losing a series, losing a test match is never easy. We didn’t play our best cricket, and we accept that. New Zealand played better than us throughout. As a captain, I wasn’t at my best, leading the team and with the bat as well.”
New Zealand’s second innings ended quickly, with India needing just 14 balls to dismiss the Black Caps, as Jadeja took 5-55, completing a five-wicket haul in the match.
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