, the third and final day of the third and final test in Mumbai, New Zealand won by 25 runs to complete an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep of India. The Black Caps bowled the hosts out for 121 on a tricky wicket, securing the victory.
India’s last home defeat came in a two-match series against South Africa in 2000. Before a difficult five-match series against Australia, Rohit Sharma’s team will be under pressure.
After the hosts were reduced to 29-5 on a turning track at Wankhede Stadium, Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batsman to show resistance. He scored a stunning 64 runs.
Ajaz Patel defeated the hosts once more with 6-57, his second five-wicket haul of the match.
Sharma threw the main punch by getting out of his wrinkle to hit Matt Henry for a four in the opening over, however the captain’s frustrating ongoing run of structure proceeded when he fell for 11 after a rash shot against a similar bowler.
Shubman Gill, who had scored a magnificent 90 in the first innings, left a ball that hit the stumps and departed for one, giving Patel two wickets in two overs.
India were in trouble at 18-3 on a tricky Wankhede Stadium pitch when Virat Kohli edged Patel back to slip on one. He didn’t stay at the crease for long.
As Glenn Phillips trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for five and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel straight to Rachin Ravindra in the deep on one, the crowd once more fell silent.
Ravindra Jadeja and Pant steered the ship in a 42-run stand, but India were on the verge of collapse at 71-6 thanks to a stunning catch by Will Young.
After a New Zealand review after lunch, Patel dismissed Pant, even though Pant appeared to suggest he hadn’t touched the ball before it was caught.
After that, the runs stopped flowing, and India gave up the ghost.
India bowled the Black Caps out in just 14 balls after Jadeja caught Patel in the deep to end with fine figures of 5-55 after also scoring five in the first stanza. New Zealand resumed their second innings on 171-9 earlier.
In their first test victory in India in 36 years, the tourists took the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets and won the second match in Pune by 113 runs to win the series.
The first time New Zealand had won a series in India since 1955 also ended the hosts’ home winning streak of 18 series since losing 2-1 to England in 2012.
