New Zealand achieved an historic 3-0 series sweep over India, clinching a 25-run victory on the third day of the final test in Mumbai by bowling out the hosts for 121 on a challenging pitch. This marks the first time India has been swept at home since a two-match series loss to South Africa in 2000. India’s performance struggled with the upcoming five-match series against Australia looming, though Rishabh Pant was a standout, scoring a resilient 64 after the team was reduced to 29-5 on the spinning Wankhede Stadium wicket.
Ajaz Patel earned Player of the Match with figures of 6-57, his second five-wicket haul in the match, while spinner Glenn Phillips took 3-42, combining to subdue India’s batting lineup. Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings, reflected on the win: “It’s seriously special to win a test match at this historic ground and to win a series 3-0 … we’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world.”
The Black Caps won the first match in Bengaluru, marking their first test win in India in 36 years, and claimed the second test in Pune by 113 runs. Their triumph in this series breaks India’s 18 consecutive home series victories, which began after a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma initially looked strong with a boundary against Matt Henry but was dismissed for 11. Ajaz Patel quickly removed Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal to leave India struggling at 18-3. Pant held firm with a 42-run partnership alongside Ravindra Jadeja, but a remarkable catch by Will Young and further pressure by New Zealand’s bowlers led to India’s collapse. Despite the challenging outcome, Sharma acknowledged New Zealand’s superior play: “We didn’t play our best cricket … New Zealand played better than us throughout.”
New Zealand began their second innings on 171-9 before India quickly wrapped it up, with Ravindra Jadeja finishing with figures of 5-55.
