New Zealand Makes History by Defeating India by 25 Runs
Rishabh Pant stood as a wall between New Zealand and history. People were debating: would New Zealand become the first team to whitewash India in a series of three or more matches on Indian soil, or would Pant save India? In the third and final Test in Mumbai, it felt like a battle between New Zealand and Pant alone.
In this “11 vs. 1” battle, New Zealand ultimately emerged victorious, defeating India by 25 runs and securing a series whitewash. For only the second time in their history, India has been whitewashed at home. The first team to do so was South Africa, who won a two-match series in India in 2000. But this was the first time in a three-match series.
While it’s true that New Zealand won the Mumbai Test, it’s also true that India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Pant didn’t exactly lose. His innings in Mumbai’s “cauldron” was so remarkable that he can’t simply be placed in the defeated camp. What did Pant achieve? He did something that very few cricketers in the world can replicate. Yet, cricket relies on numbers to narrate the situation.
Chasing a target of 147, India was at 18 for 3 when Pant came to bat. The score quickly became 29 for 5, with Pant seeing Rohit, Kohli, and Gill fall before him, and then losing Jaiswal and Sarfaraz shortly after. Even a seasoned batsman like Kohli was dismissed in single digits in consecutive innings at home for the first time in his Test career. India’s famous batting lineup had no answers to the spin of Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips—except Pant, who stood like a brave warrior, showing how to face spinners on such a pitch.
One example of Pant’s daring innings was his use of the reverse sweep on the first ball of most overs, which disrupted the Kiwi spinners’ rhythm. By doing this, he forced them to bowl straighter, allowing him to play the traditional sweep shot. Pant’s strategy confused Patel and Phillips, who were thrown off by his moves. Lady Luck favored Pant too: he survived an LBW shout off Patel’s delivery because New Zealand didn’t review it. They say fortune favors the brave, and that was Pant’s approach—taking risks with unconventional shots, which often surprised the commentators and kept everyone on their toes.
When Pant was dismissed for 64 off 57 balls, New Zealand sensed something special. There was some debate over his dismissal. When he came down the track and defended in his style, the ball landed in the keeper’s gloves. The on-field umpire didn’t give him out, but New Zealand used their final review, having lost one earlier on Pant. This time, however, Kiwi captain Tom Latham’s decision paid off. Replays showed the ball barely brushing the bat before reaching keeper Tom Blundell’s gloves, with the bat also touching the pad simultaneously, which made it difficult for the third umpire to decide.
Pant wasn’t happy with his dismissal. He tried to convince the umpire, possibly pointing to the bat-pad contact, but to no avail. As the third umpire’s decision came, Pant left the field, shaking his head in disbelief. The silence in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium was deafening, as though all hope had evaporated. For Indian fans, Pant’s exit meant the end of any hope of winning the Test.
India needed 40 runs more with three wickets left after Pant’s dismissal. Washington Sundar tried his best, but on such a pitch, it was tough. Eventually, he was out for 12, making New Zealand the second team to defend a total below 150 in India.
Amidst the praise for Pant, New Zealand’s team deserves full credit. Despite missing their top players, like Kane Williamson and Pune Test star Mitchell Santner, they managed an incredible win by defending a mere 147. This unbelievable feat was largely thanks to Ajaz Patel, the match’s top performer, and Will Young, the series’ best batsman. Patel took 11 wickets in Mumbai, following his 5-wicket haul in the first innings with 6 in the second, totaling 15 wickets in the series.
Phillips and Santner supported him well, with Santner taking 13 and Phillips 8 wickets in the series, while Young scored 244 runs at an average of nearly 49. Together, these contributions led New Zealand to their first-ever consecutive three away Test wins in history.
It was a memorable victory for New Zealand, as they conquered India—the “Last Frontier” once dominated by Australia. Former cricketer and commentator Simon Doull aptly called it, “the greatest success in New Zealand’s Test cricket history.”
