New Zealand secured a narrow victory over India by 25 runs on the third day of the final Test in Mumbai, thanks to Ajaz Patel’s impressive performance of 6 wickets for 57 runs in the fourth innings. This triumph marked a historic 3-0 whitewash, the first instance of India being whitewashed at home in a series consisting of three or more matches.
India's commendable performance in the first innings
Among the three victories achieved by New Zealand in the series, this one can be considered to have occurred on the most challenging pitch. The visiting team won a favorable toss, and it must be acknowledged that batting was relatively straightforward during the morning session of the first day. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly, leading to the conclusion of the match within a span of two and a half days.
On the first day, a total of 14 wickets were lost, followed by 15 on the second day and the remaining 11 wickets were dismissed on the third day. Given the challenging nature of the pitch, batting was inevitably a gamble, and batting last proved to be particularly arduous.
The Black Caps deserve commendation for achieving a commendable first innings total, largely due to the contributions of Daryl Mitchell (82) and Will Young (71), whose half-centuries bolstered the innings despite the difficulties faced by their teammates. Ravindra Jadeja (5-65) and Washington Sundar (4-81) effectively capitalized on the conditions after the home team had a shaky start on the first day.
New Zealand was 159 for 3 at one stage, aiming for a total exceeding 275, potentially even 300. However, they were ultimately dismissed for 235 runs. Ashwin had a lackluster performance, finishing the first innings without taking any wickets.
India was presented with a significant opportunity to dominate New Zealand in the match. As the pitch began to deteriorate, establishing a lead of approximately 60-70 or even 100 runs would have been pivotal. Regrettably for the home team, only Shubman Gill (90) and Rishabh Pant (60) effectively navigated the challenges posed by the spin bowling, as Ajaz created difficulties for the other batters. At one point, with Gill and Pant performing well, India found themselves in a strong position at 180/4.
However, similar to their opponents, they experienced a substantial collapse. Had it not been for Washington Sundar’s quickfire 38 off 36 balls towards the end, India might not have secured any lead at all. India finished the first innings at an dismal total of 263 with a lead of only 28 runs.
New Zealand's epic comeback in the second innings
Ultimately, the narrow lead of 28 did not play a substantial role in undermining New Zealand’s confidence and momentum. India performed admirably in the second innings, with Jadeja achieving yet another five-wicket haul in the match. Ashwin also regained his form, claiming three wickets as New Zealand managed to score only 174 runs, setting a target of 147. This target, being one of those intermediate scores, often leads to turmoil for the team chasing, particularly on a pitch that was turning sharply.
India required a strong beginning to establish their rhythm; however, they found themselves at 29/5 by the seventh over. From that point onward, given the conditions of the pitch, there was no turning back. The fact that India was able to bring the match this close can be attributed to Pant’s second half-century of the game. The left-handed batsman distinctly seemed to be playing on a different surface, showcasing his intent and style of play.
Beginning the second session with 55 runs required for victory and only four wickets remaining, India’s prospects hinged entirely on Rishabh Pant (64), whose daring innings sustained the hosts’ pursuit. Nevertheless, Ajaz swiftly dashed India’s aspirations by having the left-handed batsman caught behind, a decision that sparked considerable controversy.
The on-field umpire, Richard Illingworth, initially ruled Pant not out; however, upon review through the Decision Review System (DRS), UltraEdge revealed a faint sound. The challenge for the third umpire lay in determining whether the noise originated from the bat striking the pad or a slight edge. Typically, in such situations, the original decision is upheld, yet Paul Reiffel appeared resolute in his decision to reverse it, leaving Pant astonished.
The situation proved to be a significant setback for India, and from that point onward, the outcome became inevitable, even with Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin at the wicket. The characteristics of the pitch, combined with India’s insufficient aggression in batting, necessitated that Pant remain at the crease for the entirety of the innings to secure a successful result.
The pair from Tamil Nadu lingered for a short while; however, Ashwin’s attempt at a reverse sweep against Glenn Phillips resulted in his dismissal. Subsequently, Phillips bowled Akash Deep for a duck on the very next delivery, accelerating the conclusion of the innings. In a fitting conclusion for New Zealand, Ajaz secured the victory as Sundar failed to connect with his slog sweep and was subsequently dismissed.
SCORECARD:Â New Zealand 235 (Daryl Mitchell 82, Will Young 71; Ravindra Jadeja 5-65, Washington Sundar 4-81) and 174 (Will Young 51; Ravindra Jadeja 5-55, Ravichandran Ashwin 3-63) beat India 263 (Shubman Gill 90, Rishabh Pant 60; Ajaz Patel 5-103) and 121 (Rishabh Pant 64; Ajaz Patel 6-57) by 25 runs.
