India are all smiles after whitewashing New Zealand and climbing to the summit of the Test team rankings
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Ravichandran Ashwin was the star of the show once again as he took a career-best seven wickets to not only lead India to a 321-run win over New Zealand, but also help them whitewash the Black Caps 3-0.
In addition to claiming the most wickets in an innings in his career, Ashwin also finished with his best figures in a Test match as he ended up with 13/140. His previous record was 12/85 against New Zealand in Hyderabad in 2012.
Thanks to Ashwin, India also sealed their second-biggest victory in Tests in terms of runs, while New Zealand suffered their second-biggest loss in terms of runs. India’s largest win in Tests via runs is a 337-run win over South Africa in Delhi last year.
India started the day on 18/0, but were quickly dealt an early blow as opening batsman Murali Vijay was run out by Martin Guptill for 19.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Gautam Gambhir, who had retired hurt on Monday with a shoulder injury, stabilised the innings with a 76-run partnership, during which Gambhir brought up his half-century, before being dismissed by Jeetan Patel for 50 off 56 balls, which included six boundaries.
Gambhir scored his first Test fifty since December 2012
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India captain Virat Kohli only managed to make 17 runs before being trapped lbw off the bowling of Patel, but despite losing two wickets in quick succession, the hosts recovered as Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane put together a 58-run stand, during which Pujara recorded his eighth Test century, before Kohli decided to declare with his side on 216/3, which set New Zealand a target of 475 to win.
Pujara ended up finishing on 101 off 148 balls, which included nine boundaries, while Rahane remained undefeated on 23 off 20 deliveries, which included three boundaries.
Pujara celebrates after bringing up his eighth Test century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Patel was the only bowler to take any wickets for New Zealand.
Chasing a mammoth total of 475 to win, New Zealand lost opener Tom Latham in the second over as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for six runs.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson made a brisk 27 before he too was trapped lbw, but only off the bowling of Ashwin.
Just when New Zealand seemed to be rebuilding their innings, Ashwin struck again as he clean bowled batsman Ross Taylor for a quickfire 32.
It all went downhill from there for the tourists as Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ripped through the middle and lower order as New Zealand went from 80/3 to being skittled out for 153.
Ashwin was easily the pick of the bowlers with seven wickets, while Jadeja snapped up two and Yadav chipped in with one.
Ashwin finished with 27 wickets overall, the second-most by an Indian bowler in a three-Test series
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Williamson was disappointed to have lost 3-0, and said: “That’s fair, we knew coming in, it was going to be tough. We wanted to show better cricket than we did, but full credit to India. They outplayed us in all areas and we have to weather these wounds. I suppose in this match, we can look at a number of areas we didn’t do too well. India from the start outplayed us, getting such a big total. And we knew it would be a tough task batting on this pitch last.
“They’re No. 1 in the world, a fantastic effort. The beauty of it is that we have a young side, and being exposed against the best bowling attack in the world is that we can learn. It’s a shame we haven’t done so quickly enough. It’s tough to swallow, but the opportunity to learn playing against some of the best bowlers in the world in these conditions is a big thing.”
Kohli was thrilled to have whitewashed New Zealand and led India to the top of the Test team rankings in the process, and said: “I’ve got a few Man of the Match awards, so have the boys. This is much more special. The last time India got the mace, I was watching on TV. The key right now is maintaining our game. We’re working really hard on the areas needing improvement and we’ve been able to correct the wrongs quickly and we’d like to continue that and give the people what they want to see.
“Absolutely, couldn’t have asked for anything better. The bowlers have responded beautifully every time we’ve been in pressure. Someone has always put up their hand. And that’s the difference, this team is up, we get wickets in bunches, we have that attitude and we do get the results.
“We made it clear that the bowlers deserve to be in this position and it’s time they express themselves. Don’t hesitate in playing your shots. If you see Pujara hitting a fast bowler back over his head, it is the best example of expressing yourself. This is a proper team series win. It wasn’t just one individual. You can leave Ash aside, he is not to be mentioned in the XI. Jadeja with the bat in the first game, Saha in the second, Rohit with those crucial knocks. We keen his numbers, we discuss his Man of the Series awards after every series. No. 6. No. 7… Credit to him I wish him well.”
Ashwin was named Man of the Match and Man of the Series, and said: “First things first, I would like to thank the crowd of Indore, coming out in large numbers. It felt like a Test from the 90s. It was a wicket where you had to work hard, be patient. there was a little bit of help outside the off stump, in terms of footmarks. Second innings, they helped us out with their shots. The reason we were slow was because he wanted to get them driving. There was not much bounce to get catches at short leg.
“I knew Boult was coming, and he’d give me footmarks, so I wanted them lunging out. I have to give special metion ot Shami, Bhuvi and Umesh, they got us a lot of wickets with reverse swing and Jaddu is a perfect foil. Virat had told me he was trying to rotate the bowlers, and it did help, Jaddu got the wicket of Guptill. I feel really good about myself and my confidence is sky high.”