Christchurch:Halting their dream run in the ongoing cycle of World Test Championship, New Zealand thrashed World number one India by seven wickets in less than three days tocomplete a memorable series sweep in the second Test, here on Monday.
India were all out for 124 in their second innings to leave New Zealand with a chase of 132 for a 2-0 whitewash at the Hagley Oval.The hosts completed the job easily with openers Tom Latham (52) and Tom Blundell (55) doing the bulk of the scoring.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets wickets and Umesh Yadav one as New Zealand completed a dominant win in one of their favourite hunting grounds.Earlier, resuming the third day on 90 for six, India lost overnight batsmen Hanuma Vihari (9) and Rishabh Pant (4) early and the tail also could not survive for long.
For Kiwis, lead pacer Trent Boult finished with impressive figures of 4/28 and his new ballpartner Tim Southee was equally good, taking three wickets for 36 runs at the Hagley Oval.
India had scored 242 in their first innings and New Zealand were all out for 235 to give thevisitors a slender seven-run lead. India had lost the first Test by 10 wickets.
After this series win, a solid 120 points took New Zealand's tally to 180 even as India stayed on top with 360 points, 64 more than 2nd-placed Australia, in 10 Tests. This is the 1st time Virat Kohli has been on the receiving end of a Test series whitewash as captain. This is the 3rd overseas series defeat in 4 tours since 2018 for the Indian skipper who was woefully out of form in New Zealand.
Captain Kohli's 38 runs in four innings was one of the biggest setbacks for the visitors in the series.Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane managed 91 runs while Cheteshwar Pujara 100 runs.
The 2-0 sweep is also the 1st time since the 4-0 loss in Australia in 2012, India have been handed a series whitewash in Tests.
India began the New Zealand tour on a high, winning the T20I series 5-0 but things have gone downhill since with the visitors losing the ODI series 0-3 and 0-2 in the Tests.Kyle Jamieson was given Player of the Match award while Tim Southee became Player of the Series for taking 14 wickets.(UNI)
