We tried to be aggressive with bat and proactive with ball: Latham

Had you asked anyone which team would break India’s 18-series-long home winning streak, the answer certainly wouldn’t have been New Zealand. After all, this was a team that had only won two Tests in India before the series, let alone winning a series. But such has been their performance on this tour that history has been made. 

Tom Latham became the first New Zealand skipper to win an away series in India and also became the first captain to whitewash India in a three or more-match Test series in India. Alongside that, Latham’s men also ensured that they handed India their first series loss at home since 2012. 

After two impressive wins, an eight-wicket win in Bengaluru and a 113-run win in Pune, New Zealand etched history by defending a paltry 147 in the second innings in Mumbai, bowling India out for just 121. 

"Very very ecstatic. Looking back at the start of the series and to be in this position. Boys have done a very good job, and to finally to do it here in Mumbai, we were challenged with bat and ball. Very happy,” Latham said at the post-match presentation. 

“Just being able to adapt to each ground. There is no one way of doing things - the seamers did the job in Bangalore, and different guys stood up at different times. More contributions we were looking for,” he added. 

Latham also lauded the efforts of both left-arm spinners—Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel—who combined to wipe out India in Pune and Mumbai. While Patel finished with 15 wickets in the series, Santner, who just played the Pune Test, finished with 13 wickets. 

“Last week, it was Mitch, this time, it was Ajaz. We wanted to come here and try and fire a few shots. Tried to be aggressive with the bat, be proactive and with the ball, keep it simple. I don't think we played all that badly over in Sri Lanka. Fell on the right side of the toss in these conditions and put enough runs on the board,” he said. 

“When you are chasing a target on a tricky wicket, it is important to have runs on the board. Girls winning the World Cup was fantastic, being in this position, we can only brag once we get to this position"

Patel, who had a fond return at the Wankhede Stadium, finished with match figures of 11/160 and, in the process, broke several records, including picking up the most wickets for an overseas bowler at an Indian venue. The left-arm spinner finished with yet another ten-fer in the country, his second after the historic ten-wicket feat in Mumbai last time around. 

But the start wasn’t as smooth for the left-arm spinner, who struggled with his line and length in the first two clashes before turning it around. So, what changed?

"Spin bowling is about rhythm. When you are in rhythm, it is about making the most of it, taking it by the horns and helping your team. I felt confident even in the morning session [on day two], but the wicket did not offer me much,” Ajaz said. 

In particular, there was a passage of play that intrigued the crowd when the left-arm spinner went toe-to-toe with Rishabh Pant. Patel revealed that his process to bowl quick was to lure Pant into a false shot. 

“After lunch, I got the confidence to toss it up and use my guile. [Pant] He's batted phenomenally throughout the series, I had to think out of the box and made sure to come up with a new plan and stay ahead of him."

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