In a thrilling display of cricketing prowess and unexpected twists, the series between India and New Zealand in Pune left the cricketing world in deep reflection. For India, their impressive home dominance seemed unassailable until it was abruptly halted by a New Zealand team that few anticipated would emerge victorious, marking a sudden and surprising end to India’s streak. This match holds historical significance, as it saw New Zealand achieving a victory against India similar to their combined triumphs in the previous 12 series, an occurrence that dates back to 1955.
New Zealand embarked on this series with notable challenges. They had recently experienced a captaincy change following a disappointing 0-2 series loss to Sri Lanka, and their most seasoned player, Kane Williamson, was sidelined with an injury. Meanwhile, they faced an Indian team ranked at the top of the World Test Championship table and vying for a third successive spot in the finals. The magnitude of this triumph for New Zealand can be gauged by the fact that it would rank among the top upsets in cricket history.
New Zealand’s captain, Tom Latham, encapsulated the shock and unprecedented nature of the win with his struggle to find words post-match. Just a week prior, Latham had subtly indicated his decision to bat first in Bengaluru, a move that ironically handed India a defeat in the opening Test. Yet, by the end of the series, Latham witnessed his team enforce India’s lowest home Test score to date. New Zealand’s young batsmen took the spotlight by conquering India’s seasoned spinners and eventually thwarting India’s comeback attempt with the second new ball. This alone could qualify as one of New Zealand’s most extraordinary away Test victories.
In the dusty environs of Pune, conditions favored spin from the first ball, yet New Zealand’s spinners, especially Mitchell Santner, outperformed India’s seasoned pair, Ashwin and Jadeja. Despite having lesser experience than their Indian counterparts, Santner delivered a remarkable performance, outshining Ashwin and Jadeja over two innings. India’s prowess on home soil was undermined as New Zealand outplayed them at their own game, demonstrating both strategy and skill in capitalizing on Indian conditions. If Bengaluru was remarkable, then Pune stands as a crowning jewel in New Zealand’s historical Test wins away from home.
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This triumph, while not as dramatic in finish as India’s Gabba victory, equated in significance. New Zealand has established a pattern of overcoming India during critical matches—such as the 2019 World Cup semifinal and the 2021 World Test Championship final. The 2024 triumph positions this transition-focused New Zealand team as potential harbingers of a new era in their cricketing history, potentially giving rise to future greats.
On the flip side, India finds itself in a phase of introspection regarding its senior players. The performances of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, amounting only to fifties in Bengaluru, coupled with Ashwin’s uncharacteristically lackluster series, put pressure on the team’s core. The emergence of players like Washington Sundar casts a shadow on the veterans. With four home Test losses over the last two years, a clear pattern of vulnerability has emerged, coinciding with the advent of result-oriented pitches under the World Test Championship format.
In response to the Pune event, Indian captain Rohit Sharma urged calm and perspective, emphasizing the team’s extensive record of success. As he articulated, with a winning percentage of nearly 80% over their last 54 Tests, India’s overall performance is positive, and dwelling excessively on recent defeats could unduly pressure the team. Rohit’s vision emphasizes maintaining a supportive environment, free from undue criticism and doubt, to foster growth and performance continuity.
“We’ve had a good run for 12 long years. Defeats may have surfaced, but they highlight what we continuously strive to improve,” stated Rohit, emphasizing India’s capacity to rebound from challenging situations. As Rohit paints a serene backdrop to recent events, the focus is on growth and adaptation, accentuating confidence amidst transitional periods.
India is set for a formidable challenge as they prepare for their upcoming tour of Australia, a series where they need to secure at least four out of five Test victories to secure a World Test Championship final berth. This upcoming challenge will present yet another opportunity for India to restore their dominance, albeit counting on finding their form after the lessons learned from the Pune series.