The New Zealand Test team compounded India’s current woes in the format by handing their hosts an embarrassing whitewash across three meetings. Team India failed to stymy the Black Caps’ advance as they marshalled to a first 3-nil whitewash over the Men in Blue on tour.
The historic whitewash now throws India’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 campaign in serious jeopardy as New Zealand bask in their giant-killing success.
New Zealand and India in the Record Books
The Black Caps clean sweep over India creates some groundbreaking records for the visitors and unwanted feats for their hosts. Some records achieved after the encounter include:
Black Caps register their first-ever win in a Test series vs India
New Zealand’s persistence on the field vs India paid off with their first-ever win against the Men in Blue on November 3, 2024. The Black Caps have been close on previous occasions after managing a draw and some match victories against India before their latest achievement.
New Zealand becomes second Test team to whitewash India at home in a 3-game Test series
Hansie Cronje and his South Africa Test team were the first to hand Team India a whitewash before the Black Caps. Cronje and the Proteas stunned Sachin “Master Blaster” Tendulkar and his colleagues to hand India their first-ever whitewash on home soil.
Tom Latham and his New Zealand charges rolled back bitter memories for Indian cricket fans with their determined showing against the Men in Blue.
Rohit Sharma ties the most defeats as Team India captain at home in a calendar year
Sharna now has the joint-most losses (4 defeats) as Team India’s skipper in a calendar year. His unwanted record ties Mansur Khan Pataudi’s ‘feat’ in 1969.
Most losses for a Team India Test captain after taking the first innings lead
Rohit Sharma and his players looked set to hand New Zealand a drubbing after marshalling into a first innings lead. However, it was not to be as the Black Caps players turned things around to hand India a bitter defeat.
How Does the Whitewash Affect India’s WTC Final 2025 Chances?
The whitewash of India against New Zealand puts the Men in Blue’s WTC Final 2025 aspirations in jeopardy. India must defeat Australia away from home in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 and hope other results go their way. Any other slip-ups like the outing vs New Zealand could see India miss out on a WTC Final place next year.
Team India Cricket Legends React to Humiliating Home Loss to Black Caps
Several ex-Team India players gave a scathing assessment of the side’s showing against New Zealand at home. Comments from veteran Indian players seemed to point out problems with the team’s spin abilities:
“We do not play spin well” – Aakash Chopra
Veteran Team India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra believes India’s spinning problems cost them the series vs New Zealand:
“It seems like we should admit that we cannot play spin, let’s be very, very honest. Let’s not beat around the bush that we can play. Let’s admit we do not play spin well. We can play on flat pitches, there is no doubt about that, but everyone can play on flat pitches. The only thing is that we play better than other teams on flat pitches,” Chopra said via his YouTube channel.
“This… is a concern” – Anil Kumble
Legendary Indian bowler Anil Kumble cited the team’s problems among spinners throughout their games vs New Zealand:
“This [poor spinning] has consistently happened over the last three Test matches. Whenever the spinners come on, there hasn’t been a noticeable improvement from one game to the next. A couple of players have made certain adjustments, which has helped in the batting lineup, but collectively, as a batting unit, they haven’t been able to avoid those collapses. This has happened far too often in a single session, which is a concern,” Kumble said after the whitewash.
Gautam Gambhir in Hot Water after Embarrassing Test Loss to New Zealand
India’s brutal whitewash at home to New Zealand isn’t going unnoticed, and head coach Gautam Gambhir is currently feeling the heat. Sources close to the BCCI claim India’s current head coach across all formats could lose access to some decisions going forward. An insider claimed Gambhir may lose his privilege to attend selection meetings after the horror show vs New Zealand:
“Gautam Gambhir was given access which his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid didn’t have. The BCCI’s rule book doesn’t allow coaches to be a part of the selection committee meetings, but for Australia tour selection meeting, an exception was made. “The head coach was allowed to attend considering the magnitude of the tour,” the insider said.
Gambhir got special privileges to make important selection decisions after his appointment in July. However, current realities suggest he may not be wielding such powers anymore.
