A drama-filled third Test between India and New Zealand ended with the tourists securing a first-ever series sweep in the Indian subcontinent. India were looking forward to a song to secure a pride-saving victory against the Kiwis till the time Rishabh Pant was batting, but the wicketkeeper-batsman’s controversial dismissal shattered the Indian batting unit like a deck of cards. In the process, New Zealand became the first team in the history of the game to beat India 3-0 at home in a three-match series.

India played in a three-match Test series for the first time when England toured the country in the 1933-34 season. The competition took place in the pre-independence British era. India had suffered a 2-0 defeat to the tourists in the series.

With the 3-0 series sweep against India, New Zealand became the fourth side to whitewash India in a series of 3+ Tests, after England (4), Australia (3) and West Indies (once).

It is also the first ever instance of New Zealand winning three Tests in a series, whether home or away. The Kiwis had also never won the first three Tests of a series away from home in their history.

India did well in the first innings and posted a total of 263 runs after New Zealand were bowled out for 235 runs. In the second innings, Indian spin twins Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took 8 wickets between them as the Blackcaps were bowled out for 174 runs.

New Zealand capped a remarkable Test series with a 3-0 whitewash over India after a thrilling win in Mumbai #WTC25 | #INDvNZ: https://t.co/XMfjP9Wm9s pic.twitter.com/vV9OwFnObv

— ICC (@ICC) November 3, 2024

However, the chase proved difficult for the Indian team. The hosts lost 5 wickets for just 29 runs after the likes of Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan departed for paltry scores.

Rishabh Pant was the sole bearer of India’s hopes, scoring 64 runs off 57 balls before leaving due to a controversial dismissal. R Ashwin and Washington Sundar wanted to forge a partnership, but Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips had other ideas.