New Zealand defeated India by 25 runs on day four of the third and final Test to win the series 3-0 at the Wankhede Stadium at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
In fact, this is the first series whitewash suffered by India with more than three or more matches. The last time India were blanked at home was in 2000, when they lost 2-0 to South Africa.
New Zealand won the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first test victory in India in 36 years, and wrapped up the series in Pune with a 113-run win.
Having dismissed New Zealand for 174 at the beginning of the first session, India needed 147 runs to pick up a conciliatory win.
However, the home team batters collapsed to spin with Ajaz Patel, who took a five-for in the first innings, taking his match haul to 11 wickets.
Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, getting the captain to mis-hit to Glenn Phillips at midwicket for 11.
Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then had Virat Kohli, on one, caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd.
Wickets kept tumbling as Phillips trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for five, and two balls later Sarfaraz Khan was caught in the deep off Ajaz, leaving India in deep trouble at 29-5.
Rishabh Pant fought valiantly, making 64 off 57 balls before being given out controversially.
Ravichandran Ashwin fell to Phillips as Akash Deep fell on the very next ball. Ajaz cleaned up Washinton Sundar for the win.
Earlier, Will Young (51), Glenn Phillips (26), Devon Conway (22) and Daryl Mitchell (21) all made important contributions on a tricky pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.
Ravindra Jadeja took 5-55 while fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 3-63 for India.
New Zealand lost Ajaz Patel for eight off Jadeja after seven minutes of play on day three at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The left-handed Ajaz was caught at deep mid-wicket off a slog sweep as left-arm spinner Jadeja ended with a match haul of 11 wickets. He also claimed five in New Zealand’s first innings.
The hosts are seeking to avoid being swept 3-0 after New Zealand won the first two Tests to register their first Test series triumph in India.
Will Young top-scored with 51 on Saturday on a track that has turned sharply since day one.
