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New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel claimed six wickets as his side sealed a historic 3-0 sweep of India with a thrilling 25-run victory in the third Test on Sunday.
Chasing 147 for victory, India were bowled out for 121 in 29.1 overs on day three after Rishabh Pant hit a valiant 64 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Ajaz roared with joy as he bowled Washington Sundar to take the final wicket and the Black Caps celebrated a maiden Test series victory on Indian soil in style.
It was the first time India had been swept aside in a home Test series since South Africa’s 2–0 victory in 1999–00 and the first time they had been beaten 3–0 at home.
“It will be a very low point in my career, having lost three matches at home,” Indian captain Rohit Sharma told reporters.
“I take full responsibility for this. As a leader, I was not at the best of my abilities from the start of the series.
“With the bat too, I wasn’t good enough.”
New Zealand did the unthinkable under new captain Tom Latham and in the absence of senior batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury at home.
The Black Caps turned around their fortunes after a 2-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka and handed India their first home Test series defeat in 12 years.
“Very excited,” Latham said. “Looking back at the start of the series, to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job in the last three Test matches.”
Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz finished with an 11-wicket haul at a venue where he created history by taking all 10 wickets in a 2021 Test innings.
In a tricky chase on a turning pitch, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5, before left-hander Pant counter-attacked with his half-century.
– Pants controversy –
Ajaz, after lunch, had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, a decision turned down by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant backed away painfully.
“If we say something, it will not be received well. If the decision is not conclusive, then the decision should stick to what the on-field umpire calls,” Rohit said.
“I don’t know how this decision was overturned.”
Glenn Phillips then got two off two balls and Ajaz finished the innings to be named player of the match.
India quickly bowled out New Zealand for 174 in the first session, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on a turning wicket for 10 in the match.
But the New Zealand bowlers led by Ajaz rose to India’s top order.
Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, forcing the captain to mishit Phillips at mid-wicket for 11.
He extended his poor run with the bat in the series with scores of 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18 in his previous five innings.
Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then Virat Kohli, on one, was caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd.
Kohli also struggled in the series, with just a half-century and four single-digit scores in the series.
Pant made 42 runs for the sixth wicket to restart the chase, but Ajaz struck again to remove Jadeja for six.
Will Young’s 71 and 51 in New Zealand’s two innings proved vital and he was named player of the series for accumulating 244 runs.
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