New Zealand made history in India by winning their first-ever Test series on Indian soil, stunning the home crowd with a 113-run victory in the second match. Mitchell Santner was the star performer, taking a total of 13 wickets in the match to inspire the historic win for the Black Caps. This victory also ended India’s streak of 18 consecutive bilateral home series wins, marking a significant milestone for New Zealand cricket.
Captain Tom Latham expressed immense pride in his team’s achievement, highlighting the significance of becoming the first New Zealand team to win a Test series in India after 69 years of trying. Santner’s exceptional bowling performance, especially his 6-104 in the second innings, played a crucial role in helping New Zealand clinch the series. The left-arm spinner outplayed the Indian spinners on a turning pitch, showcasing his skill and confidence throughout the match.
Despite the defeat, India skipper Rohit Sharma credited New Zealand for their exceptional performance and acknowledged his team’s failure to meet the challenge posed by the visitors. India’s batting, which had failed to deliver in both matches, was a major concern for the hosts. With a five-Test series against Australia coming up, Rohit highlighted the need for his team to regroup and address the issues that led to their series loss to New Zealand.
The second Test saw a spirited performance from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a brisk 77 to give India hope of a miraculous run-chase. However, Santner’s brilliance with the ball, coupled with contributions from other New Zealand bowlers, stifled India’s momentum and prevented any significant partnerships from developing. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar tried to resist, but New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack proved too strong for the hosts.
New Zealand’s victory in India comes after a disappointing series loss in Sri Lanka, highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to bounce back. The series win also marked a successful start to Tom Latham’s captaincy, following Tim Southee’s decision to step down after the Sri Lanka tour. With the final Test scheduled to take place at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 1, New Zealand will look to continue their winning momentum and secure a historic whitewash against India.
