In a historic outcome, New Zealand defeated India by 26 runs in the third Test match on November 3 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, sealing a 3-0 series sweep. Chasing a modest target of 147, India’s batting lineup crumbled for 121 runs, with Rishabh Pant’s 64 being the only substantial contribution. New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel, originally from Mumbai, led the bowling effort, taking six wickets for 57 runs, while Glenn Phillips added crucial support with three wickets in his 12-over spell.
This victory marked New Zealand’s third consecutive win in the series, making them the first team to whitewash India in a three-match Test series on Indian soil. The disciplined performance from New Zealand’s bowlers exposed India’s batting vulnerabilities, handing India a rare and humbling home-series defeat.
Following the match, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment with India’s performance. Tendulkar, who holds the record for the most runs in Tests and ODIs, called the series loss “a tough pill to swallow” for the team and its supporters. He also acknowledged New Zealand’s consistent display throughout the series, commending the team for their historic accomplishment.
Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection. Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection, or was it lack of match practice? @ShubmanGillshowed resilience in the first innings, and @RishabhPant17 was brilliant in both innings— his footwork made a challenging surface look like a different one altogether. He was simply superb. Full credit to New Zealand for their consistent performance throughout the series. Winning 3-0 in India is as good a result as it can get.”
Not just Little Master, every Indian cricket fan is also hurt.
