With a stunning 2-0 victory over India in the three-match Test series New Zealand has brought an end to India’s 12-year undefeated streak in home series.
The Tom Latham-led team emerged victorious in the second Test at Pune, defeating India by 113 runs on Day 3, cementing New Zealand’s first-ever Test series win in India since 1955-56. |
Mitchell Santner’s dominant 13-wicket performance, coupled with gritty batting from Latham and contributions from Devon Conway, secured the series win and signaled a major setback for India’s Test championship ambitions.
The series kicked off with a heavy defeat for India in Bangalore, where they lost by eight wickets. New Zealand then clinched the series in Pune, on a pitch that appeared spinner-friendly yet posed a daunting challenge for Indian batters.
In the first innings, India managed just 156 runs in response to New Zealand’s 259, largely due to Santner’s seven-wicket haul, dismissing Shubman Gill (30), Virat Kohli (1), and Ravindra Jadeja (38). The Indian batting line-up struggled, with only Jadeja providing some resistance with a knock of 38.
New Zealand’s second innings set India a target of 359, as Latham’s steady 86 and Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 48 added vital runs. Washington Sundar played a crucial role for India, claiming eleven wickets across the match, but New Zealand’s 255 in the second innings set an imposing target. Despite a promising start from Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) and Shubman Gill (23), who counter-attacked effectively before lunch, Santner struck again after the break, breaking through India’s defenses.
Santner’s crucial dismissals of Gill and Jaiswal halted India’s momentum, and Kohli’s departure for 17 off Santner’s bowling deepened India’s woes. The team’s captain, Rohit Sharma, was dismissed cheaply for 8, and a crucial partnership from Ashwin and Jadeja wasn’t enough as India was bowled out for 245, falling 113 runs short.
Patel added the final blow, taking down Jadeja (42) and Akash Deep (1) to wrap up the match.
The defeat in Pune marked a historical first for India, who had previously won 18 consecutive home series since their last home defeat to England in the 2012-13 season.
The result also raises questions about India’s ability to handle spin, as former cricketer Simon Doull remarked during commentary that modern Indian batters may no longer be the dominant players of spin they once were.
