Determined and astute, New Zealand unveils India’s vulnerability with a rare and historic victory.
For twelve years and 18 series, teams visited India with more hope than certainty, all aiming to shatter the aura of invincibility that India wore as if it were impenetrable armor. Some teams nearly succeeded, while others were firmly put in their place, their audacity harshly reprimanded. Whenever their dominance was questioned, mainly by England and Australia, India responded with renewed intensity, deeply aggrieved that they could even be challenged on their home turf.
New Zealand needed only seven days of play to deliver a stunning and unforeseen blow to India’s dominance at home.
Prior to Saturday’s 113-run loss in Pune, the last time India experienced back-to-back Test defeats at home was in December 2012 against Alastair Cook’s England. After losing in Ahmedabad, England bounced back to secure victories in Mumbai and Kolkata, clinching the series 2-1. In response, India achieved their first 4-0 sweep against Australia in March 2013, marking the start of an impressive run that consistently overwhelmed any challenges, regardless of their strength.
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When Steve Smith’s Australia won the first Test in 2017, they believed they had the upper hand, but India came back to win the four-match series 2-1. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, England managed to take a 1-0 lead after the first Test in Chennai in February 2021, but they were thoroughly defeated 3-1 by India in the series.
At the beginning of this year, Ollie Pope made a statement for Bazball with a remarkable second-innings score of 196, enabling England to recover from a 190-run deficit and take a 1-0 lead in Hyderabad. However, just five weeks later, Ben Stokes and his team were left reeling after suffering a punishing 4-1 defeat. The lesson was unmistakable—never provoke the bear.
New Zealand, however, took the risk. They poked and poked again, showcasing their typical efficiency and characteristically humble approach, armed with a smile rather than aggression, and grace instead of brutality. Few believed they stood a chance before their match in Bengaluru. They had just been soundly defeated in a two-Test series in Sri Lanka, were missing their all-time best batter, Kane Williamson, and hadn’t won a Test in India since November 1988. With Tim Southee stepping down as captain following the Sri Lankan debacle, there was an air of anticipation in the Indian camp.
However, it’s important to note that New Zealand has never been a team to underestimate. They might be weary of the constant reminders that they frequently outperform expectations and may even find such comments disrespectful. With their consistent record in ICC events, making it to the knockout stages without fail, who is anyone to define their limitations? These Kiwis are adept at internalizing challenges; they are ambitious yet intelligent, hardworking yet innovative. They are well-liked visitors, and even the Indian team might privately express that if anyone were to end their winning streak, they are relieved it is Tom Latham’s New Zealand.
The Kiwis entered with a straightforward strategy—to seize the initiative right away, as Latham emphasized repeatedly after clinching the series in Pune. This meant taking charge early, shedding the hesitance of the past that had hindered them, and putting the Indians under pressure. If this approach didn’t succeed, they would at least have the satisfaction of trying.
Latham lost a toss that, had he won, could have resulted in unfavorable outcomes in Bengaluru, as he, like Rohit Sharma, preferred to bat first. He did, however, win a toss that could have been pivotal in Pune, where batting first was always advantageous. But New Zealand’s 2-0 lead is not solely attributed to luck; their skill and tenacity have allowed them to challenge India not just for an over, an hour, or a session, but for days on end. For the first time in twelve years, India couldn’t match their efforts. They were taught a lesson in conditions reminiscent of New Zealand in Bengaluru and were outplayed in Pune, which represents the most favorable Indian conditions. This combination has proven to be magnificent for one side and disastrous for the other.
By succeeding where more renowned foreign teams have faltered, New Zealand has revealed India’s vulnerability. How will the rest of the teams respond? More crucially, how will India, now humbled and embarrassed, react?
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