In a remarkable performance, New Zealand achieved a 3-0 whitewash over India in the Test series, marking a historic win on Indian soil, a feat last achieved by England in 2012. The final Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium saw New Zealand prevail by a narrow 25-run margin, a thrilling finish to an already stunning series. New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner, proved instrumental throughout, adapting to challenging subcontinental conditions and consistently outplaying India’s batting lineup.
India vs New Zealand 3rd Test Match Recap
The third Test at Wankhede, played between November 1 and 3, began with New Zealand opting to bat first. Key contributions from Daryl Mitchell (82) and Will Young (51) guided the Kiwis to a total of 235. For India, Ravindra Jadeja took five wickets, demonstrating resilience against the visitors’ aggressive approach.
In response, India managed 263, with Shubman Gill top-scoring at 90. Ajaz Patel’s 5-for kept India from building a more dominant lead. New Zealand’s second innings saw them add 174 runs, setting India a 147-run target. Despite Rishabh Pant’s brave 64 off 57 balls, Ajaz Patel’s 6/57 decimated the Indian batting order, leaving India 25 runs short and conceding a clean sweep to New Zealand.
Series Summary: New Zealand’s Road to Victory
- First Test in Bangalore: New Zealand set the tone with a dominant performance, as key players like Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner took center stage. India struggled, losing by over a hundred runs, which foreshadowed the difficulties they would face in the series. For a recap, see our analysis of the first match.
- Second Test in Pune: With New Zealand winning comfortably once more, Indian bowlers, including Washington Sundar, made some headway, but it wasn’t enough to tilt the scales.
- Final Test in Mumbai: This match was a nail-biter, with Ajaz Patel’s brilliance sealing the series with a whitewash.
Key Players and Turning Points
- Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner were the heroes for New Zealand, with both achieving significant five-wicket hauls and, in Patel’s case, multiple ten-wicket hauls.
- Indian Batting Woes: Top-order players, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were unable to find consistent form, often leaving middle-order players to salvage innings under difficult conditions.
- Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were the bright spots for India in the bowling department, each contributing critical breakthroughs despite New Zealand’s strong batting.
World Test Championship (WTC) Implications
With this series loss, India faces an uphill battle to qualify for the ICC WTC final in 2025. To keep their hopes alive, they will need an almost flawless performance in upcoming series, particularly against Australia, where they’ll aim for a dominant scoreline to compensate for the New Zealand loss. For more about the stakes in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), see our detailed BGT preview.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s triumph marks a watershed moment in Test cricket, showcasing their adaptability and resilience in foreign conditions. For India, the series underscores a need to revisit strategies, especially as they prepare for the challenging matches ahead. This series not only shifts the WTC rankings but also serves as a reminder of the evolving balance in international cricket.
This historic win underscores New Zealand’s ascent in the Test arena, and it will be intriguing to see how both teams respond in their future matches.
