Mitchell Santner delivered a stunning performance, claiming 13 wickets to secure New Zealand’s first Test series win in India, marking India’s first home series defeat since 2012. New Zealand triumphed in both Bengaluru and Pune, sealing their historic achievement.
Santner, who previously had never taken more than three wickets in a Test innings, achieved match figures of 13 for 157, the third-best by a visiting bowler in India. He bowled an incredible 29 consecutive overs, taking six wickets in the second innings after claiming 7 for 53 in the first, playing a pivotal role in New Zealand’s landmark victory and India’s unprecedented home defeat.
Despite nursing a sore side, Santner showcased remarkable stamina, only missing a single over throughout the first innings. His bowling was crucial in thwarting India’s ambitious chase of 359, particularly after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive 77 off 65 balls had propelled India to a promising 96 for 1. Santner’s dominance was complemented by a lack of support from his fellow bowlers, as Ajaz Patel struggled throughout the series and Glenn Phillips delivered a mix of poor and effective deliveries.
Santner continually outsmarted the Indian batsmen with his variations in dip and pace, achieving his first ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket. This breakthrough was essential as India was riding high after a rapid collapse of New Zealand’s batting lineup, coupled with Jaiswal’s dynamic start to the chase. New Zealand even used two unsuccessful reviews against Jaiswal during this critical phase.
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As the final day commenced, India needed a flawless performance to avoid defeat, opting to start with their seasoned spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin instead of the high-performing Washington Sundar, who had claimed 11 of the 15 New Zealand wickets up to that point. However, things went south for India almost immediately; Ashwin’s first delivery created an edge that Rohit Sharma let slip. Tom Blundell and Phillips quickly added 33 runs to the overnight total, and Jadeja’s impressive turn at high speeds was a promising sign for New Zealand.
India’s approach with the bat was aggressive, as Jaiswal launched into the New Zealand bowlers right from the start. He struck a six off the second ball of the innings and later hit two more, equaling the record for the most sixes in a calendar year. Jaiswal’s unorthodox style, including sweeping and charging at spinners, kept the bowlers on their toes, forcing them to be precise with their deliveries.
Typically, New Zealand’s spin attack isn’t known for single-handedly driving them to victory, but Santner took it upon himself to shoulder that responsibility, despite never having claimed more than three wickets in a Test innings before this match. His ability to maintain control amidst Jaiswal’s onslaught was critical.
Santner eventually dismissed Rohit, whose bat-pad dismissal was the result of clever bowling that induced extra bounce. Shubman Gill initially joined forces with Jaiswal, and they added a quick 62 runs, raising New Zealand’s anxiety levels.
However, the spinners needed to draw defensive strokes from the batters without yielding drives. Once Santner found the rhythm to achieve this, he started creating opportunities. He bowled flatter yet fuller deliveries, prompting Gill to edge one to Daryl Mitchell at slip.
Rishabh Pant’s run-out, following a misunderstanding with Virat Kohli, further compounded India’s troubles. Kohli played a shot behind square and rushed for a run that Pant deemed unnecessary, resulting in Pant’s dismissal without even a dive.
It was remarkable to see Santner, seemingly unaffected by his side strain, constantly stretching between overs while being keen to claim every ball within reach. He managed to trap Kohli with an lbw, and Sarfaraz Khan fell victim to a delivery that turned sharply to hit the off stump.
Phillips finally secured a wicket when Will Young made a stunning catch at short leg, dismissing Washington, who had been India’s standout performer. Ashwin and Jadeja, looking the most settled, added 39 runs for the eighth wicket, igniting hopes of a turnaround for India.
Ultimately, Santner struck again, enticing Ashwin into a drive that led to an edge caught by Mitchell. The final wickets came in due time, with catches off Ajaz Patel, as Santner’s remarkable achievement secured New Zealand’s place in history.
In the match, New Zealand scored 259 (Conway 76, Ravindra 65; Washington 7-59, Ashwin 3-64) and 255 (Latham 86, Phillips 48*; Washington 4-56, Jadeja 3-72), defeating India, who managed only 156 (Jadeja 38, Santner 7-53, Phillips 2-26) and 245 (Jaiswal 77, Jadeja 42, Santner 6-104), by 113 runs.
