India Suffers Home Test Series Defeat Against New Zealand, Kiwis Snap 12-Years Unbeaten Record

October 26, 2024: In a historic achievement, Tom Latham-led New Zealand defeated Rohit Sharma’s India by 113 runs in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, clinching their first-ever Test series win on Indian soil.

This victory marks a significant milestone, ending India’s 18-series unbeaten streak at home — the longest streak in the history of Test cricket. The win gives New Zealand a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final game scheduled for November 1 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Mitchell Santner, proved instrumental in this win. Santner took 13 wickets in the match, including a six-wicket haul in India’s second innings, while Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips added critical breakthroughs. Chasing 359, India’s batters initially held promise, with contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) and Shubman Gill (23), but Santner’s consistent pressure and dismissals — including the key wickets of Jaiswal and Kohli — kept New Zealand in control.

The Indian middle order struggled as Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant fell cheaply. Ashwin and Jadeja fought valiantly in the final session, building a short-lived partnership of 33, but New Zealand’s spin duo continued to dismantle the lineup. Ajaz Patel eventually claimed the final wicket, removing Jadeja to seal the game.

Earlier, New Zealand posted scores of 259 and 255, with contributions from Tom Latham (86) and Glenn Phillips (48*), while Washington Sundar’s 4/56 restricted the Kiwis’ first innings. India’s top-order batters, however, struggled against New Zealand’s spin, leading to a dramatic and historic defeat on home soil.