"we’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world.”
New Zealand completed an unprecedented 3-0 Test series sweep against India after securing a 25-run victory in the third and final Test.
They bowled out the hosts for 121 in Mumbai.
It is the first India have been clean-sweeped in a series on home soil since a 2-0 defeat against South Africa in 2000.
Rohit Sharma’s side will now be feeling the pressure ahead of a challenging five-match series against Australia starting later in November 2024.
Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batsman to show resistance as he made a sublime 64 after the hosts were reduced to 29-5 on a turning Wankhede Stadium track.
Player of the match Ajaz Patel claimed six wickets while fellow spin bowler Glenn Phillips took three wickets.
Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings, said:
“It’s seriously special first of all to win a test match here at this historic ground but also to win a series 3-0.
“It’s something you dream of. To come over here and actually achieve it is pretty special against a world-class Indian team… we’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world.”
The tourists won the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first test victory in India in 36 years and wrapped up the series in Pune with a 113-run win.
New Zealand’s maiden series triumph in India going back to 1955 also broke the hosts’ streak of 18 successive home series wins since a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.
In the opening over of the day, Sharma stepped out of his crease to hit Matt Henry for a four.
But his disappointing run of form continued as he was dismissed for 11 after a rash shot against the same bowler.
Patel made it two wickets in two overs as Shubman Gill, who had scored 90 in the first innings, left a ball that crashed into the stumps and departed for one.
Virat Kohli did not last long as he edged Patel back to slip on one to leave India in trouble at 18-3.
The crowd fell silent again as Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw for five by Glenn Phillips and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel straight to Rachin Ravindra in the deep on one.
Ravindra Jadeja steadied things alongside Pant in a 42-run stand, but a fantastic catch by Will Young left India on the ropes at 71-6.
The runs later stopped and India collapsed.
Sharma said:
“Losing a series, losing a test match is never easy.”
“It’s not easily digested. But we didn’t play our best cricket and we accept that. New Zealand played better than us throughout.
“There were a lot of mistakes that we made, we accept it… as a captain, I wasn’t at my best leading the team and with the bat as well.”
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