New Zealand Achieves Historic 3-0 Clean Sweep Against India

Third Test, Mumbai (Day 3 of 5)

• New Zealand 235 (Mitchell 82, Young 71; Jadeja 5-65, Sundar 4-81) & 174 (Young 51; Jadeja 5-55)
• India 263 (Gill 90, Pant 60; Patel 5-103) & 121 (Pant 64; Patel 6-57)
• New Zealand won by 25 runs; series 3-0

In a remarkable upset, New Zealand completed a 3-0 series clean sweep over India with a tense 25-run win in the final Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. This marks India’s first clean-sweep home defeat in a Test series since 2000 and their first in a series longer than two matches. For New Zealand, this victory is particularly historic, as it’s their first-ever series win in India and breaks a 36-year streak without a Test win on Indian soil.

Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in New Zealand’s first innings, described the achievement as “seriously special,” highlighting the unique accomplishment against a “world-class Indian team.” He praised his teammates for achieving something New Zealand cricketers only dream of: winning a series in India.

Final Day Highlights

Chasing 147, India crumbled to 29-5 before Rishabh Pant offered resistance with a rapid half-century. However, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel’s impressive 6-57 performance dismantled India’s lineup, sealing the victory. Pant’s dismissal at 64, following a successful appeal by the TV umpire, effectively ended India’s hope of a comeback, leaving them at 106-7. Patel wrapped up the innings, finishing with match figures of 11-160.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand’s innings concluded quickly as Ravindra Jadeja claimed the final wicket, bringing his match figures to 10-120.

This win not only boosts New Zealand’s position in the World Test Championship standings, keeping their chances alive for the final, but also significantly impacts India’s hopes of making it to their third consecutive WTC final in June 2025.