New Zealand made history by defeating India in the second Test in Pune, securing their first-ever series win in the country after 13 years. The three-day loss marked a collective failure for India, with captain Rohit Sharma acknowledging the team’s lack of response to challenges. Despite a valiant effort from Ravindra Jadeja, New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner stole the show with six wickets in the second innings to seal the victory.
India’s struggles continued with key dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, as Santner’s spin proved too much for the home team. New Zealand’s captain Tom Latham credited his team’s fantastic performance, praising Santner’s stellar bowling. The Kiwis, who had not won a Test match in India in 38 years, bounced back from their defeat in the first match to secure the series win.
India’s hopes for a successful run chase were dashed as New Zealand’s bowlers dominated, with Santner’s match figures of 13-157 earning him the Player of the Match award. Despite their disappointment, India retains the top spot in the World Test Championship rankings, with Australia in second place. The final match of New Zealand’s tour against India is set to begin on November 1st, with the Kiwis currently ranked fourth in the WTC table.
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