India’s Unbeaten Home Streak Ends: New Zealand Celebrates Landmark Series Victory!

In a historic achievement, New Zealand made headlines in Mumbai on Sunday as they became the first team to achieve a 3-0 whitewash against India in a Test series on Indian soil. Led by Tom Latham, the Kiwis secured their remarkable feat in the third and final Test, winning by 25 runs thanks to Ajaz Patel’s outstanding performance, which culminated in match figures of 11 wickets for 160 runs.

New Zealand’s innings ended at 174 in the opening session of Day 3, setting India a target of 147 runs for what would have been a consolation victory. However, the Indian batting lineup faltered dramatically, succumbing to the spin attack led by Patel, who had previously taken five wickets in the first innings and added six more to his tally.

Rishabh Pant emerged as a glimmer of hope for India with a resilient 64 runs, but his dismissal soon after lunch dashed any remaining hopes of a successful chase.

This series marked a significant turning point, as New Zealand ended India’s 12-year unbeaten streak at home by winning the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune. Notably, it was New Zealand’s first Test series victory in India since they began touring in 1955-56.

After the match, Indian captain Rohit Sharma reflected on the team’s performance, acknowledging that he fell short both as a player and a leader. “I wasn’t at my best with the bat or as a captain, and that’s something that will stay with me,” Sharma remarked. “We collectively didn’t perform well, which is why we faced these losses. Losing a Test match is never easy to digest. New Zealand outplayed us, and we made too many mistakes that we need to accept.”