In a landmark achievement, New Zealand defeated India by 113 runs in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune on October 26, marking their first Test series win in India after a 69-year wait. This victory follows their earlier win in the series opener in Bengaluru, making it the first time New Zealand has secured back-to-back Test victories on Indian soil.
All-rounder Mitchell Santner was instrumental in the win, taking 13 wickets throughout the match—seven for 53 in the first innings and six in the second. Despite a spirited effort from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 77 runs off 65 balls in the second innings, India could not avert defeat, falling short once again.
New Zealand’s success comes after a challenging period, having lost their last four Tests prior to this series. The series win against India stands out as a significant achievement for the Kiwi team, especially in the absence of their star player Kane Williamson, who is yet to join the squad.
Historically, New Zealand and India first faced off in a Test series during the 1955-56 season, but until now, the Kiwis had never won a series in India. Their last Test victory in the country dated back to November 1988 under John Wright’s captaincy.
This defeat has ended India’s home winning streak in Tests, with their last series loss on home ground occurring against England in 2012. Despite the setbacks in the current series, India retains the top position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table, but they must secure victories in four of their remaining six matches to ensure a spot in the WTC final at Lord’s in June 2025.
The third and final Test of the series is set to take place at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1 to 5, after which India will head to Australia for a five-match Test series.
