Ajaz Patel delivered an awe-inspiring performance at the Wankhede Stadium, culminating in New Zealand’s historic series whitewash over India. Patel’s stunning figures of 6-57 in the fourth innings were instrumental as New Zealand narrowly defeated India by 25 runs on the third day of the final Test in Mumbai. This series marked a significant milestone in cricket history, as it was the first instance of India being whitewashed in a home series comprising three or more matches.
The drama unfolded during the second session when India, needing merely 55 runs to win with four wickets in hand, pinned their hopes on the daring Rishabh Pant, who was batting on 64. Pant’s attacking play kept India in contention, but Ajaz’s intervention came swiftly, as he had Pant caught behind in a decision mired in controversy.
Initially, the on-field umpire Richard Illingworth gave Pant not out, but the Decision Review System (DRS) picked up a faint edge, raising suspicions. The challenge for the third umpire was discerning whether the noise was the bat brushing the pad or a minor nick. Generally, the benefit of the doubt would side with the on-field call, yet Paul Reiffel overturned it, leaving Pant visibly stunned and sparking debates among players and fans alike.
This decision proved pivotal, sending India spiraling towards defeat. Despite having Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin at the crease, India’s prospects dimmed on a challenging pitch. Their passive stride with the bat left Pant as their last hope for a miraculous recovery. Although Sundar and Ashwin offered resistance, Ashwin’s reverse sweep attempt against Glenn Phillips led to his dismissal. Moments later, Phillips dismissed Akash Deep for a duck on the very next ball. Wrapping up the game fittingly, Ajaz Patel cleaned up Washington Sundar, sealing New Zealand’s victory.
Of the three triumphs New Zealand achieved in this series, this final victory came on arguably the most challenging pitch. The tourists benefited from winning the toss, yet batting proved less daunting during the morning session of the first day. However, as the match progressed, conditions rapidly deteriorated, with the encounter concluding in just over two days. Astonishingly, 14 wickets tumbled on day one, followed by 15 on the second day. Today, the remaining 11 wickets fell before reaching the halfway mark of the day’s play. Batting was a gamble on this surface, and facing such a spinner-friendly pitch in the last innings posed formidable challenges.
.
Despite the conditions, the Black Caps exhibited commendable resilience, amassing a respectable first innings total. Daryl Mitchell’s gritty 82 and Will Young’s steady 71 anchored New Zealand’s innings amidst the struggles faced by their teammates. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar capitalized on the pitch conditions, taking 5-65 and 4-81, respectively, after India’s ineffective start on the opening day. At 159/3, New Zealand appeared set for a total around 275 or even 300, yet they were eventually all out for 235. Ravichandran Ashwin had a subdued outing, notably going wicketless during New Zealand’s first innings.
India found themselves with a golden opportunity to dominate New Zealand out of the game. While the pitch was degrading, securing a substantial lead could have been decisive. Unfortunately for the hosts, only Shubman Gill, with an impressive 90, and Rishabh Pant, contributing 60, countered the spin assault effectively. India, comfortably placed at 180/4, succumbed to a batting collapse similar to their opponents. Without Washington Sundar’s quickfire 38 off 36 balls, even gaining a lead seemed precarious.
Ultimately, their slender lead of 28 runs was insufficient to deter New Zealand’s spirit and momentum. Yet, India showcased a commendable bowling display in New Zealand’s second innings, with Jadeja bagging another five-wicket haul and Ashwin regaining his form, securing three wickets. New Zealand, limited to 174, set India a target of 147, often a tricky score to chase on a deteriorating pitch.
India needed a robust start to chase the target effectively. However, the home side faltered quickly, finding themselves at 29/5 within the first seven overs. On this challenging pitch, their recovery seemed unlikely. Rishabh Pant’s spirited second fifty of the match and his enthusiastic gameplay suggested batting on a different surface. Yet, with no one providing valuable support and the pitch continuing to deteriorate, odds favored the visiting team. Pant’s controversial dismissal marked the turning point, guiding New Zealand toward a victorious historic feat, forever etching this series as a memorable chapter in their cricketing annals.
Brief Scores: 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) defeated India 263 (Shubman Gill 90, Rishabh Pant 60; Ajaz Patel 5-103) and 121 (Rishabh Pant 64; Ajaz Patel 6-57) by 25 runs.