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Follow UsNew Zealand made history at Wankhede Stadium as they became the first team in Test cricket history to whitewash India in a three-match bilateral series in the subcontinent.
They achieved this iconic feat defending a target of just 147 on day three of the third Test match. Apart from defending one of the lowest targets against India, they managed to win three Tests in a bilateral series for the first time in their history, making it the single greatest cricketing achievement in the country's history.
120 - West Indies, Barbados, 1997
147 - New Zealand, Mumbai, 2024
176 - Sri Lanka, Galle, 2015
194 - England, Birmingham, 2018
Lowest target defended in India in Tests
107 – India vs Australia, Mumbai, 2004
147 – New Zealand vs India, Mumbai, 2024
170 – India vs South Africa, Ahmedabad, 1996
188 - India vs Australia, Bengaluru, 2017
188 - India vs New Zealand, Mumbai (Brabourne), 1969
Captains to clean sweep India in India in Tests
Hansie Cronje (SA), 2000
Most successful bilateral series for New Zealand in Tests
3-0 (3) vs India in India, 2024
2-2 (5) vs South Africa in South Africa, 1961
2-0 (2) vs Sri Lanka in New Zealand, 1983
2-0 (3) vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, 1984
2-0 (3) vs Pakistan in New Zealand, 1985
For team India, this is a series they need to forget as early as they can, not least because the much anticipated Australia tour starts in less than three weeks.
Across the three Tests, the side scripted many unwanted records.
As a result, the legacy of Rohit Sharma, the captain, has taken a huge, huge hit.
Most defeats for an Indian captain at home in a calendar year
4 - Rohit Sharma, 2024
4 - Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, 1969
3 - Kapil Dev, 1983
Most losses for Indian Captains in home Tests after taking first innings lead
3 - Mohammad Azharuddin (vs AUS, Bengaluru, 1998, vs PAK, Chennai, 1999 & vs PAK, Kolkata, 1999)
2 – Rohit Sharma (vs ENG, Hyderabad, 2024 & vs NZ, Mumbai, 2024)
1 – Sachin Tendulkar (vs SA, Mumbai, 2000)
1 – Kapil Dev (vs PAK, Bengaluru, 1987)
1 – Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (vs AUS, Chennai, 1964)
Clean sweep defeats for India at home in Tests
2-0 vs South Africa, 2000
3-0 vs New Zealand, 2024
Indian captains to be white washed at home in Tests
Sachin Tendulkar vs South Africa, 2000
Rohit Sharma vs New Zealand, 2024
Most defeats for India at home in Tests in a calendar year
4 – 2024
4 – 1969
3 – 1983
2 – 2012
2 – 2004
Spinners from both sides were at the top of their game as this series witnessed the second most wickets taken by spinners in a three-match Test series.
We also saw spinners take a whopping seven 5-fers, the second-most 5-fers taken by spin bowlers in Test history in three-match bilateral series.
Most wickets for spinners in a three-match Test series
100 - Sri Lanka vs England in Sri Lanka, 2018
81 - India vs New Zealand in India, 2024
79 - Sri Lanka vs New Zealand in Sri Lanka, 1998
78 - Sri Lanka vs Australia in Sri Laka, 2016
76 - Australia vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, 2004
Most wickets for left-arm spinners in three-match Test series
47 - India vs New Zealand, 2024
45 - Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2016
43 - Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1969
39 - Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1984
Most five-wicket hauls for left-arm spinners in a Test series
6 - India vs New Zealand, 2024 (3 matches)
5 - England vs Australia, 1909 (5 matches)
4 - Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 2004 (2 matches)
4 - Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 2005 (2 matches)
4 - India vs England, 2012 (4 matches)
Most five-wicket hauls against India in a three-match Test series
5 - New Zealand in India, 2024
4 - England in England, 1936
4 - Australia in India, 1956
4 - Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, 1985
4 - Pakistan in India, 1999
4 - Australia in Australia, 1999/00
4 - Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, 2008
Amongst all the spinners, it was Ajaz Patel who was the best of the lot in the third Test in Mumbai as the Kiwi spinner backed up the 14-wicket haul he took in 2021 with an 11-wicket outing.
His series-sweeping final wicket of Washington Sundar made him the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in India.
He also joined Pakistan legend Saqlain Mushtaq to become only the second opposition bowler to take multiple 10-wicket hauls in India.
Most wickets for New Zealand in India in Tests
32 - Ajaz Patel
31 - Richard Hadlee
31 - Daniel Vettori
23 - Mitchell Santner
23 - Tim Southee
Multiple 10-wicket hauls for an opposition bowler in India
2 - Ajaz Patel (Mumbai, 2021 & Mumbai, 2024)
2 - Saqlain Mushtaq (Chennai, 1999 & Delhi, 1999)
Most wickets against India at a venue in India in Tests
25 - Ajaz Patel, Mumbai (Wankhede)
22 - Ian Botham, Mumbai (Wankhede)
18 - Richie Benaud, Kolkata
17 - Courtney Walsh, Mumbai (Wankhede)
16 - Richie Benaud, Chennai (Nehru Stadium)
16 - Nathan Lyon, Delhi
Most 5+ wicket hauls against India at an Indian venue in Tests
3 - Ajaz Patel in Wankhede
3 - Ian Botham in Wankhede
2 - Richie Benaud in Kolkata
2 - Richie Benaud in Madras
2 - Nathan Lyon in Delhi
For India, in a largely disappointing series with the bat, only Rishabh Pant had a good outing as the Delhi southpaw became the first Indian keeper to score three 50+ scores in a three match Test series. He also surpassed Farokh Engineer in 50+ scores in Tests, overall.
Most 50+ scores for an Indian keeper batter at home in Tests
20 - MS Dhoni
11 - Rishabh Pant
10 - Farokh Engineer
9 - Syed Kirmani
Most 50+ scores for an Indian keeper batter in a Test series (three matches or less)
3 - Rishabh Pant vs New Zealand, 2024 (3 matches)
2 - Dilawar Hussain vs England, 1934 (2 matches)
2 - Farokh Engineer vs England, 1974 (3 matches)
2 - Rishabh Pant vs Sri Lanka, 2022 (2 matches)
2 - Rishabh Pant vs Australia, 2020/21 (3 matches)
Instances of Indian batters scoring 50+ runs at 100+ SR in both innings in Tests
55(46) & 55(55) - Virender Sehwag vs WI, Delhi, 2011
72(51) & 51(45) - Yashasvi Jaiswal vs BAN, Kanpur, 2024
60(59) & 64(57) - Rishabh Pant vs NZ, Mumbai, 2024
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