New Delhi: New Zealand completed an unprecedented 3-0 sweep of the series in India as the Black Caps dismissed the hosts for 121 on a difficult wicket to secure a 25-run win on day three of the third and final Test in Mumbai on Sunday.
The last time India lost at home was in 2000, in a two-match series against South Africa. Rohit Sharma’s side will be feeling the pressure ahead of a tough five-match series against Australia.
Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batsman to show resistance as he made a brilliant 64 after the hosts were down to 29-5 on the turning track at the Wankhede Stadium.
Ajaz Patel claimed 6-57, his second five-wicket haul of the match, to beat the hosts once again.
Sharma delivered the first punch by coming out of the crease to hit Matt Henry for four in the opener, but the skipper’s disappointing form of late continued when he was dropped for 11 after a reckless delivery against the same bowler.
Patel made two wickets in two overs as Shubman Gill, who scored a brilliant 90 in the first innings, let a ball hit the stumps and leave for a single.
Virat Kohli did not last long after arriving at the crease as he edged Patel to slip for one to leave India in trouble at 18-3 on a tough pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.
The crowd fell silent again as Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw for five by Glenn Phillips and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel straight to Rasheen Ravindra in the deep over for 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 71-6.
Patel dismissed Pant after New Zealand’s post-lunch review, although the batsman appeared to indicate that he had not made contact with the ball before catching it.
The rivers then dried up and India collapsed in a heap. New Zealand resumed their second innings with a score of 171-9 earlier, but India needed just 14 balls to dismiss the Blackcaps, with Jadeja managing to catch Patel in the deep to finish with good figures of 5-55 after also taking a five in the first stanza.
The tourists won the opener in Bengaluru by eight wickets to register their first Test win in India in 36 years, and ended the series in Pune with a 113-run win.
New Zealand’s first victory in India since 1955 also ended the home team’s 18-game winning streak since a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.