India lost the third Test match against New Zealand by 25 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, enduring the shame of being humiliated at home for the first time in almost 24 years.
New Zealand became the first side to defeat India 0–3 in a home Test series, marking the first time this has happened. The Kiwis won the second Test in Pune by 113 runs and the first Test in Bengaluru by 8 wickets.
With a 42-run partnership for the sixth wicket, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja brought order after a now-familiar batting collapse that had them reeling at 29/5 while chasing a 147-run mark. Jadeja claimed his second five-wicket haul of the day as India bowled the Kiwis out for 174 to start the day’s play.
With skipper Rohit Sharma falling to Matt Henry for 11 after attempting a huge shot, the Indian run chase got off to a terrible start. Ajaz Patel clean bowled Shubman Gill for one, bringing him down after he had scored 90 in the first innings.
India batting mainstay Virat Kohli continued his poor run with the bat as he was caught by Daryl Mitchell at first slip off Ajaz Patel for 1.
The Indian batting hara-kiri continued as Yashasvi Jaiswal (5) and Sarfaraz Khan (1) fell in successive overs.
It was only Pant, who defied the Kiwis with a 48-ball half-century and alongwith Washington Sundar, took India to 92/6 at Lunch.
But in the second over after Lunch, Pant was caught bat/pad by wicket-keeper Tom Blundell off Ajaz Patel after a 57-ball 64.
Soon after Pant’s fall, India collapsed to 121 all out in 29.1 overs, marking the end. The Kiwis only required three bowlers (Glenn Philips 3/42, Matt Henry 1/10), and Ajaz Patel concluded with 6/57, to win the game, series, and make history. In addition to becoming the first side to win a Test series in India since 2012, New Zealand also achieved a first in almost 24 years: a complete sweep. In addition to ending the hosts’ 18-game winning streak at home since a 2-1 defeat to England in 2012, New Zealand’s first series victory in India dates back to 1955.
When India lost half of their team in 8 overs with only 29 runs scored, it was clear that the game was over. South Africa, captained by Hansie Cronje, last defeated India 0–2 in a two-Test series in 2000. Now, Rohit Sharma’s team will be under pressure as they prepare for a difficult five-match series against Australia.
