New Zealand defeats India, ending historic 12-year home test series record

New Delhi, Oct 26: India's remarkable 12-year unbeaten streak in home Test series has come to an unexpected halt, as New Zealand secured a historic 2-0 lead with a 113-run victory at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium on Saturday. This defeat marks India's first home Test series loss since their 2-1 defeat to England, led by Alastair Cook, back in 2012.

During this impressive 12-year run, India participated in 18 Test series, playing 52 matches, winning 42, losing only four, and drawing six. The series against New Zealand began with a challenging opener in Bengaluru, where India was bowled out for a mere 46 runs under overcast conditions. New Zealand took full advantage of this early setback, with Rachin Ravindra scoring a crucial century and Tim Southee contributing significantly, despite strong resistance from Sarfaraz Khan and a near-century by Rishabh Pant.

In the second Test held in Pune, New Zealand continued their dominance, limiting India to 156 runs in their first innings and taking a 103-run lead. Skipper Tom Latham’s composed 86 set India a challenging target of 359 runs. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a promising start, India's middle order crumbled, ultimately leading to their defeat on home turf. This loss marks the end of India's impressive streak of 18 consecutive home series victories.