This defeat marks India’s first series loss at home in 18 consecutive series over 12 years
GUWAHATI: India’s unbeaten test home run came to an end on Saturday, October 26, as New Zealand clinched a 2-0 series victory with a 113-run in the second Test.
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This defeat marks India’s first series loss at home in 18 consecutive series over 12 years, and New Zealand’s first-ever series win on Indian soil after nearly 70 years.
Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin proved devastating, exposing India’s batting vulnerabilities with a 13-wicket haul across two innings. He claimed 7/53 in the first innings and 6/104 in the second.
Chasing a target of 359, India collapsed to 245 all out despite resistance from Yashasvi Jaiswal (77) and Ravindra Jadeja (42), making Santner’s spin dominance the deciding factor in the series. The series saw the home team record their lowest home score, 46 all out, in the first Test in Bengaluru, losing by eight wickets. The second Test followed a similar script, with India’s famed batting lineup unable to sustain momentum.
Although Jaiswal fought back with a 65-ball 77, none of the other top-order batsmen, including captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could build substantial partnerships. India’s score crumbled after a promising 81/1 at lunch, with wickets falling at regular intervals as Santner tightened his grip on the game.
Despite still topping the World Test Championship (WTC) table with 98 points, India's percentage points dropped to 62.82, just ahead of Australia’s 62.50. This defeat complicates India’s path to the WTC final, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia looming, where further challenges await.
