Ajaz Patel took six wickets as the hosts struggled to chase down 146 runs in Mumbai, marking India’s first clean sweep loss at home since 2000. New Zealand achieved an historic 3-0 series sweep against India, dismissing the home team for just 121 on a challenging pitch to secure a 25-run victory on the third day of the final Test on Sunday. The last instance of India being whitewashed at home occurred in 2000 during a two-match series against South Africa, putting added pressure on Rohit Sharma’s team ahead of a tough five-match series against Australia starting this month.
Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batsman to show any resistance, scoring a commendable 64 after the team found itself in dire straits at 29 for five on a turning Wankhede Stadium surface. Ajaz Patel, named player of the match, took six wickets for 57 runs—his second five-wicket haul of the match—while fellow spinner Glenn Phillips contributed with three for 42 to help dismantle the Indian batting order once more.
“It’s incredibly special to win a Test match at this historic venue, and to secure a 3-0 series victory,” said Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings. “It’s a dream come true. Achieving this against a world-class Indian team is indeed extraordinary.” New Zealand had previously secured their first Test win in India in 36 years during the opening match in Bengaluru, which they won by eight wickets, and sealed the series with a 113-run victory in Pune. This triumph also ended India’s impressive streak of 18 consecutive home series wins since their 2-1 defeat to England in 2012.
In pursuit of 147 runs for victory, Sharma took the initiative by hitting Matt Henry for a four in the first over, but his poor form continued as he was dismissed for 11 after an ill-advised shot against the same bowler. Patel quickly claimed his second wicket, bowling Shubman Gill—who had made a brilliant 90 in the first innings—out for just one. Virat Kohli soon followed, edging Patel to slip and leaving India in a precarious position at 18 for three. The situation worsened when Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw by Glenn Phillips for five, and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel directly to Rachin Ravindra in the deep on his first ball.
Ravindra Jadeja and Pant briefly stabilized the innings with a 42-run partnership, but a spectacular catch by Will Young left India in trouble at 71 for six. Following a New Zealand review, Patel dismissed Pant, even though the batsman appeared to suggest he hadn’t touched the ball before it was caught. The runs dried up thereafter, and India fell apart, with Washington Sundar being the last wicket to fall while attempting to score aggressively.
Sharma commented, “Losing a series and a Test match is never easy. It’s tough to accept. We didn’t play our best cricket, and we acknowledge that. New Zealand outperformed us throughout the series. There were numerous mistakes on our part, and as captain, I wasn’t at my best either with my leadership or my batting.” Earlier, New Zealand resumed their second innings at 171 for nine, but India needed only 14 balls to dismiss the Black Caps, with Jadeja taking Patel’s catch in the deep to finish with five wickets for 55, having also taken five in the first innings.
