India experienced a humiliating series defeat at home, their first in 12 years, as they were bowled out for 245 while chasing a target of 359 in the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday. Mitchell Santner was the star performer, taking six wickets and finishing with match figures of 13, while his spin partner, Ajaz Patel, claimed the last two wickets, including that of Ravindra Jadeja, who fought valiantly to score 42.
This stunning defeat marked India’s first series loss on home soil since they were defeated by England in 2012, breaking their impressive streak of 18 consecutive home series victories. The Black Caps, who dominated both matches, have now set their sights on a clean sweep in the upcoming finale in Mumbai.
India’s highest successful run chase at home is the 387 they achieved against England in Chennai in 2008, but hopes for a similar comeback diminished on the spinning surface of the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The Indian innings began promisingly, with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting several impressive boundaries before falling for 77. Rishabh Pant’s shocking run-out for a duck shortly after lunch left India in dire straits at 127-4.
Santner’s earlier breakthroughs included dismissing Rohit Sharma for eight and Shubman Gill for 23. He then trapped star player Virat Kohli lbw for 17, causing alarm in the Indian dressing room. Sarfaraz Khan, who had performed brilliantly in the first match, could only manage nine runs this time, succumbing to Santner’s bowling.
As India’s innings crumbled, Washington Sundar was dismissed for 21, and Santner caught Ravichandran Ashwin for 18, leaving India reeling at 206-8. New Zealand, after resuming with a 300-plus lead, managed to score 255 in their second innings, largely thanks to skipper Tom Latham’s 86 and valuable contributions from lower-order batsmen, establishing a solid position for a historic series victory in India.
In the morning session, Jadeja took his first wicket, dismissing Tom Blundell for 41. Despite losing key wickets, New Zealand steadily advanced, with Phillips remaining not out at 48. The match concluded with New Zealand’s bowlers delivering a stellar performance, securing a well-deserved victory.
