Team India reached a new low in their Test cricket history with a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The Blackcaps achieved this remarkable feat with a 25-run victory in the final Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 3.
This surprising outcome left Indian fans questioning when the team last faced a home Test series whitewash. To find that, we must look back to the early 2000s. In February-March 2000, a strong South African team led by Hansie Cronje toured India for two Tests.
The series began in Mumbai, where both teams battled closely throughout the match. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India managed a modest 225 in their first innings, with Sachin Tendulkar scoring a noteworthy 97.
However, they bounced back with their bowling, dismissing South Africa for just 176 in their first innings. Despite holding a 49-run lead, India failed to build on it, getting bowled out for a disappointing 113 in their second innings, leaving South Africa a target of 163 runs.
The South African batsmen struggled but ultimately chased down the total, winning by six wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
India’s first Test defeat was disheartening, but their performance in the second Test was even more troubling, as they were bowled out for only 158 in their first innings in Bengaluru against a disciplined South African bowling attack.
The bowlers struggled under the constant pressure from the resilient South African batting, allowing a total of 479 runs. In their second innings, the hosts once again failed to show any fight, getting bowled out for 250 despite a brilliant 102 from Mohammad Azharuddin.
This resulted in South Africa securing a comprehensive innings and 71-run victory, completing a 2-0 series sweep. While Tendulkar earned the Player of the Match award in the low-scoring first Test, left-arm spinner Nicky Boje received the honor in the second Test.
Legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis was named Player of the Series for his contributions of 136 runs and five wickets across both Tests.
Team India faced a whitewash against New Zealand in 2024
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Team India’s recent Test series whitewash against New Zealand marked their first home series loss of three or more matches. After dropping the opening match on a seam-friendly pitch in Bengaluru, India was anticipated to rebound and win the next two games.
Instead, they were surprisingly outperformed in their own strategy of relying on spinners and playing on turning tracks. In the second Test in Pune, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner dominated, taking an impressive 13 wickets.
This resulted in the hosts conceding their first home Test series in over a decade, with the last loss occurring against England in 2012-13. Despite the disappointing series, Rohit Sharma’s team was still expected to restore some pride with a consolation win in the final Test in Mumbai.
However, New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel took the spotlight this time, claiming 11 wickets. Chasing a modest target of 147 for victory, India could only manage 121 runs in less than 30 overs, marking a low point in their Test performance.
This defeat significantly impacted India’s chances of qualifying for a third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final, as they would likely need to win their next Test series by a margin of 4-0 or better.
Additionally, the loss to New Zealand tarnished what had otherwise been a successful 2024 for India, which included home Test series victories over England and Bangladesh, as well as winning the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
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