New Zealand on Sunday reached a remarkable milestone by defeating India in the third Test to secure a 3-0 whitewash against the hosts.
The visitors, on the third day of the final Test, dismissed the Indian side for 121 on a tricky wicket to secure a 25-run victory on day three of the third and final Test in Mumbai.
The last time India were blanked at home was in 2000, in a two-match series against South Africa, and Rohit Sharma’s side will be feeling the pressure ahead of a challenging five-match series against Australia starting later this month.
Rishabh Pant was the lone Indian batsman to show resistance as he made a sublime 64 after the hosts were reduced to 29-5 on a turning Wankhede Stadium track.
Man-of-the-match Ajaz Patel claimed 6-57, his second five-wicket haul in the match, while fellow spinner Glenn Phillips took 3-42 to help skittle the hosts again for a famous win.
“It’s seriously special first of all to win a Test match here at this historic ground but also to win a series 3-0,” said Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings.
“It’s something you dream of. To come over here and actually achieve it is pretty special against a world-class Indian team [….] We’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world,” he added.
The tourists won the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first Test victory in India in 36 years and wrapped up the series in Pune with a 113-run win.
New Zealand’s maiden series triumph in India going back to 1955 also snapped the hosts’ home streak of 18 straight series triumphs since a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.
