New Zealand do the unthinkable and hand India their first 3-0 whitewash at home
Ajaz and Phillips combined for nine wickets to defend 146 despite Pant's 64 off 57
Ajaz and Phillips combined for nine wickets to defend 146 despite Pant's 64 off 57
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: S Sudarshanan
1:38pm Latham collects the series trophy from MCA president Ajinkya Naik and joins his team-mates, who are behind the huge placard that says WINNERS. They have truly conquered a land that few dream of in Test cricket. Ajaz Patel now walks to the pitch with his wife and daughter to get a picture clicked. He might as well take a bit of the turf with him back home to New Zealand. Lovely pictures.
And with that, we have come to the end of New Zealand's tour of India. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we did in bringing it all to you. Do keep an eye out for Alagappan Muthu's post-game pieces. On behalf of Vairavan and Sidharth, this is Sudarshanan bidding you goodbye! Ciao!
1:23pm Time for the presentation
Rohit Sharma, India captain: "Losing a series, a Test match, is never easy... something that is not easily digestable. We didn't play our best cricket, NZ played better throughout the series. There were a lot of mistakes we did. The first two Tests we did not put enough runs in the first innings. This game we got the 30 runs [28] lead and the target was chaseable. We failed as a unit. When you are chasing a target like that, you want runs on the board. That was in my mind and it did not come of. When it does not come off it does not look great. I go in with certain plans and those did not come off this series. We did not play our best cricket in these conditions and are facing the result of that. Pant, Gill, Washington showed how to bat on those surfaces. You have to be proactive, last three-four years we have been playing on pitches like that. This was an unfortunate series where we tried certain things that did not come off. I was not at my best as captain in leading the team as well as with the bat. Collectively as a unit we failed to perform."
Ajaz Patel, Player of the Match: "Spin bowling is about rhythm. When you are in rhythm it is about making the most of it, taking it by the horns and helping your team. I felt confident even in the morning session [on day two] but the wicket did not offer me much. After lunch i got the confidence to toss it up and use my guile. [Pant] He's batted phenomenally throughout the series, I had to think out of the box and made sure to come up with a new plan and stay ahead of him."
Will Young, Player of the Series: "Firstly for the team to come over here. One win was huge but to go again and again was huge. I tried to keep it simple, at times I need to trust my defence and at times I need to work out where I want to score. Memories with the boys we have created with the boys. We go back and enjoy each other's company. [On Kane Williamson] Next series we'll see what happens."
Tom Latham, New Zealand captain: "Very very ecstatic. Looking back at the start of the series and to be in this position. Boys have done a very good job and to finally to do it here in Mumbai, we were challenged with bat and ball. Very happy. Just being able to adapt to each ground. There is no one way of doing things - the seamers did the job in Bangalore, different guys stood up at different times. More contributions we were looking for. Last week it was Mitch, this time it was Ajaz. We wanted to come here and try and fire a few shots. Tried to be aggressive with the bat, be proactive and with the ball, keep it simple. I don't think we played all that bad over there [in SL]. Fell on the right side of the toss in these conditions and put enough runs on the board. When you are chasing a target on a tricky wicket, it is important to have runs on the board. Girls winning the World Cup was fantastic, being in this position, we can only brag once we get to this position"
1:04pm New Zealand cricket's superb sporting period continues with the men not only ending India's winning run in Test series at home, but also registering a clean sweep in India, a feat that teams could only dream of. This is the first time India have been whitewashed in a Test series at home since South Africa's 2-0 win in 1999-2000 and their first-ever 3-0 clean sweep at home. Take a moment to digest the magnitude of New Zealand's achievement.
Only Pant posed any real challenge for New Zealand after the tourists made early inroads after setting a target of 147. For a large part of this, he stood between New Zealand and a clean sweep. But once he was dismissed just after lunch - a decision that will continue to divide opinions - New Zealand knew they had found a way in and just finished the job at hand. Ajaz once again shines in the city of his birth and his love for the city perhaps will only grow. He has 25 wickets in two Tests at the Wankhede. This makes India's journey in this WTC even tougher...
Daryl Mitchell: "Seriously special to win a Test match here but also to win a series. Something you dream of but to come here and achieve against a world-class Indian team. We saw the surface is turning big and knew in our second innings how challenging it was. We wanted to survive as long as we could and wanted to land the ball in right areas and wait for our chances. We are just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world and are proud of doing so"
Washington Sundar b Patel 12 (69m 25b 0x4 0x6) SR: 48.00
Short leg, slip are close in, men deep on the leg side for Washy
Muthiah: "Quick 26 made by Philips seems to be the difference between these 2 teams now."
Mohammed Siraj at No. 11 after batting at No. 4 in the first innings. Hat-trick ball... short leg and a leg gully in
Akash Deep b Phillips 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Akash Deep has his task cut out - try and get Washington back on strike as much as possible
R Ashwin c †Blundell b Phillips 8 (30m 29b 0x4 0x6) SR: 27.58
Daniel Vettori calls it "New Zealand cricket's greatest achievement", while Shane Bond says "New Zealand have done an India on India"
Pitches on which batting is a lottery bring the opposition's less-skilled spinners into the game
Mumbai presented an opportunity for New Zealand, and they rallied around Ajaz to script some serious history
India captain says match simulation gives them a better chance at maximising their three days at the WACA in the lead-up to the Test series
India's 3-0 defeat to New Zealand has opened up several possibilities for teams in their fight for a place in the WTC final