In a stunning turn of events, India has been whitewashed at home for the first time in cricket history, as New Zealand clinched the Mumbai Test by 25 runs. Chasing a modest target of 147 runs, India’s batting collapsed, leading to a historic clean sweep for New Zealand, who won their third consecutive Test match.This defeat marks a significant moment in Indian cricket, as no team had previously managed to achieve a clean sweep against India on their home soil.
First Innings: Strong Start from New Zealand and Indian Bowlers’ Response
New Zealand batted first and scored 235 runs, with significant contributions from Will Young, who made 71, and Devon Conway, who scored 82 runs. Indian bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar performed admirably, taking 5 and 4 wickets, respectively, to restrict New Zealand’s total.
Rohit Sharma has faced his fifth Test defeat as captain at home and first series defeat at home!
In response, India managed to score 263 runs, gaining a slender lead of 28 runs. Shubman Gill played a crucial innings of 90 runs, supported by Rishabh Pant’s 60. However, New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Ajaz Patel, kept the Indian batsmen under pressure and prevented them from building a larger total.
Second Innings: Indian Bowlers Bounce Back, But Ajaz Patel Shatters Indian Hopes
In New Zealand’s second innings, the Indian bowlers showcased a commendable performance, bowling them out for 174 runs. Jadeja and Sundar continued their impressive form, claiming vital wickets. India was set a target of 147 runs to win, but what seemed like a manageable target turned out to be a nightmare for the Indian batting line-up.
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Ajaz Patel wreaked havoc on the Indian batting order, taking 6 wickets and finishing the match with a total of 11 wickets. Glenn Phillips also contributed significantly by taking key wickets. India was bowled out for just 121 runs in pursuit of the target.
Key Players
New Zealand: Ajaz Patel’s incredible bowling performance with 10 wickets in the match played a crucial role in the victory. Will Young’s 71-run innings were instrumental in building a solid foundation for the team.
India: Ravindra Jadeja excelled with 8 wickets in the match, showcasing his bowling prowess, while Shubman Gill’s outstanding innings of 90 runs provided a solid start for India.
New Zealand’s Historic Victory and India’s First Home Whitewash
This memorable victory for New Zealand marked the first-ever clean sweep against India on their home ground. The outstanding performance by the Kiwis has etched their name in history, achieving a remarkable feat that has never been accomplished before in Indian cricket history.
