New Zealand's Ish Sodhi (left), Ajaz Patel (centre) and Rachin Ravindra (second right) reveled in their team's victory against India at the conclusion of the third and final Test cricket match at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. — AFP
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel claimed six wickets as his team achieved a historic 3-0 Test series sweep in India with a thrilling 25-run win in the final Test on Sunday. India, chasing 147 for victory, were dismissed for 121 in 29.1 overs on day three, despite Rishabh Pant's valiant 64 at the Wankhede Stadium. Ajaz celebrated exuberantly as he bowled Washington Sundar to secure the final wicket, and the Black Caps marked their first Test series win on Indian soil with great enthusiasm. This marked the first time India had been swept in a Test series at home since South Africa's 2-0 victory in 1999-2000, and the first time they had been beaten 3-0 at home.
India skipper Rohit Sharma admitted, "This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home. I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at my best abilities right from the start of the series. With the bat as well, I have not been good enough." New Zealand, under new captain Tom Latham and without senior batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury, defied expectations. The Black Caps reversed their fortunes from a 2-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, inflicting India's first Test series loss at home in 12 years.
Latham expressed, "Very ecstatic. Looking back at the start of the series, to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Test matches." Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz concluded with a match-haul of 11 wickets at a venue where he made history by claiming all 10 wickets in a Test innings in 2021. In a challenging chase on a turning pitch, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5 before Pant's half-century counter-attack. Ajaz, after lunch, had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, a decision initially denied but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant departed.
Rohit commented, "If we say something, it will not go down well. If the decision is not conclusive then the decision has to stand with what the on-field umpire calls. I don't know how that decision was overturned." Glenn Phillips then claimed two wickets in two balls and Ajaz sealed the innings to be named player of the match. India quickly dismissed New Zealand for 174 in the first session, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on a turning wicket for 10 in the match. However, the New Zealand bowlers, led by Ajaz, dismantled India's top order. Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, getting the captain to mis-hit to Phillips at midwicket for 11. He continued his poor batting form in the series with scores of 2, 52, 0, 8, and 18 in his previous five innings.
Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then had Virat Kohli, on one, caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd. Kohli has also struggled in the series, with just one half-century and four single-digit scores. Pant put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the chase, but Ajaz struck again to remove Jadeja for six. Will Young's 71 and 51 in the two New Zealand innings proved crucial and he was named player of the series for accumulating 244 runs.
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