New Zealand has stunned India with a 3-0 series victory in the third Test at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, marking their first-ever Test series sweep on Indian soil. After winning the first two games, New Zealand closed the series with a memorable defense, prevailing by 79 runs and overcoming formidable Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
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Key Highlights
- New Zealand’s Resilient Batting: New Zealand posted 235 in the first innings, with Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra scoring crucial fifties. Despite a determined show by the Indian bowlers, Washington Sundar’s four-wicket haul couldn’t stop New Zealand from building a steady innings foundation.
- Shubman Gill Shines for India: Shubman Gill, who scored a commendable 90 in India’s first innings, stood as a lone fighter but fell short of his sixth Test century. Gill’s innings was crucial in keeping India in the game, yet they managed only a slim lead of 27 runs after their first innings.
- Ashwin and Jadeja’s Bowling Brilliance: Indian bowlers gave their all, with Ashwin claiming three wickets and Jadeja taking five in a remarkable performance. However, it was New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel who stole the show, clinching a decisive five-wicket haul that restricted India’s second innings to just 136.
- Series Impact: This historic sweep is a milestone in New Zealand’s cricket journey, demonstrating their growth as a Test team capable of succeeding on challenging subcontinental pitches. It’s a rare series loss for India at home and a moment for reflection, especially on batting against spin.
Next Steps
India will now focus on improvements, especially in batting resilience, as they prepare for upcoming series. In contrast, New Zealand will head back home with new confidence, celebrating their milestone win on Indian soil.
For live score updates and in-depth analysis of each session, you can follow the match on Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo.