The kiwis’ lower order didn’t last long as it took just an hour and 11.3 overs on Day 4 for India to wrap up the remaining 5 wickets to clinch the victory at Wankhede Stadium and yet another series victory at home.
It was just a matter of time, as Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra came out to bat on Day 4 to get some crucial efforts to just delay the loss and reduce the difference of defeat. Both however saw off the first 6 overs of the day and scored a few boundaries before Rachin got caught at 2nd slip off Jayant Yadav who quickly removed Jamieson and Southee also in his very next over. He then added another scalp to his list in the name of Somerville who provided a catch to Agarwal at FSL. Ashwin then put the final nail in the coffin by getting Henry Nicholls stumped at 44 as his 4th wicket of 2nd innings. New Zealand just managed to add 27 more runs to their overnight total before getting all-out for 167 and lost the match by a heavy margin of 372 runs.
The 372-run victory is #TeamIndia's biggest victory by runs in Test cricket! #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Kfrpb1zv3i
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2021
This was India’s largest victory and New Zealand’s heaviest defeat in test cricket (by runs). The test match also saw the records been broken and made as Ravichandran Ashwin became fastest to 300 test wickets at home just behind the great Muralitharan. Ajaz Patel took memorable career-best figures of 14/225 and became the only 3rd bowler in the history of test cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings after Anil Kumble and Jim Laker. NZ was dismissed for just 62 runs in the 1st innings which is their lowest test total ever.
Mayank Agarwal for his 150 (1st innings) and 62 (2nd innings) was adjudged as player of the match who scored his 4th Test century in the match. Ravichandran Ashwin for his unmatched contributions again with both bat and ball was adjudged as player of the series for the 10th time in his Test career.
Mayank Agarwal is adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant show with the bat 👏👏#TeamIndia | @mayankcricket | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/YWaetCtjat
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2021
Indian captain Virat Kohli who was making a comeback as both batsman and the skipper in the 2nd test didn’t himself manage to contribute much with the bat but was cherished on the all-around effort from the team and was proud of every individual of the group. “To come back with a win again, it’s a great feeling and a clinical performance. You want individuals to step up. The first Test was good and it was a clinical performance here.” Kohli said in the post-match interview in Star Sports Network. India has now won 14 consecutive test series at home.
CHAMPIONS 👏👏
This is #TeamIndia's 14th consecutive Test series win at home.#INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/FtKIKVCzt8
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2021
New Zealand now has taken 12 attempts and still haven’t managed to win a series on Indian soil. The last they won a test match in India was way back in 1988 in Wankhede.
