India faced a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home for the first time ever after suffering a 25-run defeat in the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai on Sunday.
New Zealand had ended India’s 12-year unbeaten home run in Tests by winning the first two matches. It is also their first-ever series victory in India since they started touring the country in 1955-56 under Harry Cave.
The Black Caps also scripted history by becoming the first team to notch a 3-0 series win in India.
Rishabh Pant’s valiant effort to rescue India’s innings came to an abrupt end as he was controversially given out LBW.
The wicketkeeper-batter, who had scored a rapid 64 runs off just 57 balls, couldn’t believe the decision as he made the slow walk back to the pavilion.
Having dismissed New Zealand for 174 at the beginning of the first session on day three courtesy Ravindra Jadeja’s five-wicket haul, India needed 147 runs to pick up a consolation win at the Wankhede in Mumbai.
Patel, who took a five-for in the first innings, added six more to take his match haul to 11 wickets.
Rishabh Pant (64) led a monumental fightback but the wicketkeeper batter was caught behind shortly after lunch to deflate all hopes of an Indian victory.
