New Zealand capped a tough tour of Asia with an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep in India, while the bruised and battered home side will face uncomfortable questions ahead of their trip to Australia for five Tests.
The Black Caps’ spinners ran riot on a challenging wicket in Mumbai to dismiss India for 121 in their second innings and secure a famous 25-run victory on the third day of the third and final Test on Sunday.
The last time India were blanked at home was in 2000, in a two-match series against South Africa, and Rohit Sharma’s side were totally outplayed by the tourists in different conditions.
“We’re ecstatic. Looking back to the start of the series to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three tests,” said New Zealand skipper Tom Latham, who took over after a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka.
“We spoke about it after each Test match, trying to back it up, and I guess to finally do it here in Mumbai on a completely different surface, one that challenged us with bat and ball, we’re pretty happy.
“Just being able to adapt to each ground … different guys stood up at different times. That’s the beauty of team sport.”
Virat Kohli. (Photo by Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)
India dropped to second below Australia in the World Test Championship table and will need a big effort to reach a third straight final next year.
Rishabh Pant was the lone Indian batsman to show resistance, making a sublime 64 after the hosts were reduced to 5-29 on a turning Wankhede Stadium pitch.
Mumbai-born man-of-the-match Ajaz Patel finished with 6-57, his second five-wicket haul in the match, while fellow spinner Glenn Phillips took 3-42.
The tourists blew India away with pace to win the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first Test victory in India in 36 years, and wrapped up the series days later on a turning wicket with a 113-run win in Pune.
In Mumbai, New Zealand kept cool in oppressive heat and humidity to dismantle India, leaving the hosts’ confidence dented before they face Australia from November 22.
New Zealand’s maiden series triumph in India going back to 1955 also snapped the hosts’ home streak of 18 straight series wins since a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.
Rohit fell for 11 after a rash shot against Matt Henry. He now has only one half-century in 10 innings, with six single-digit scores.
Patel made it two wickets in two overs as Shubman Gill, who had scored a splendid 90 in the first innings, left a ball that crashed into the stumps and departed for one.
The out-of-form Virat Kohli did not last long after arriving at the crease, edging Patel to slip on one.
The crowd fell silent again when Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw for five by Phillips and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel straight to Rachin Ravindra in the deep on one.
Ravindra Jadeja steadied the ship alongside Pant in a 42-run stand, but a stunning catch by Will Young meant India were on the ropes at 6-71.
Patel dismissed Pant following a New Zealand review after lunch. The runs dried up after that and India collapsed in a heap, with Washington Sundar the last to go while looking to go big.
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