In a remarkable achievement, New Zealand Test victory in India after 36 years, with captain Tom Latham expressing his pride in this landmark moment. This win marks only the third time New Zealand has claimed a Test victory on Indian soil, with previous successes in 1969 at Nagpur and 1988 at Mumbai.
Despite Tom Latham’s early dismissal for a duck by Jasprit Bumrah, he watched from the dressing room as Will Young and Rachin Ravindra steadied the ship. The duo guided New Zealand from a shaky 35-2 to an impressive eight-wicket win on the final day of the Test held in Bengaluru, giving the Kiwis a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
The foundation of New Zealand’s Test victory in India was laid on the first day when they bowled India out for a mere 46 runs—their lowest Test total on home soil. Latham noted the significance of this moment, stating, “There have been a lot of teams that have come here over that long period of time, so obviously it’s a special feeling. The work we did in that first and second innings with the ball and with the bat set up the game for us.”
This triumph also marks a resounding debut victory for Latham as the full-time captain, a role he recently took over from Tim Southee. In contrast, Indian captain Rohit Sharma highlighted the resilience shown by his team in their second innings, where they attempted to make history by becoming the first team to win a Test after conceding a first-innings lead of over 350 runs. “We didn’t think we’d be 46 all out, but due credit to New Zealand—it set us back, and games like this will happen,” Rohit Sharma commented.
India’s batting resurgence came with Sarfaraz Khan scoring an impressive 150 runs, supported by Rishabh Pant’s contribution of 99 runs, leading the team to a total of 462 in their second innings.
However, on the final day, despite Jasprit Bumrah giving India a glimmer of hope by removing Latham with the second ball, New Zealand’s resolve proved too strong. First-innings centurion Ravindra, who scored an unbeaten 39, was named Player of the Match, while Young secured the victory with a total of 48 runs, hitting the winning runs with his seventh four.
Looking ahead, Rohit Sharma emphasized the need for his team to focus on the positives as they prepare for the second Test scheduled to commence in Pune. “We’ve been here before, conceding home losses; these things happen. We know what it takes and will give it our all in the next two Tests,” he asserted. With India boasting a formidable history of 18 consecutive Test series victories at home since 2012, the upcoming matches promise to be a thrilling contest.
Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule
Pakistan is gearing up to host one of its most significant cricketing events, as the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule has been officially announced. Set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, the tournament will be held in three major cities: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. This marks the first time in years that Pakistan will host an international event of this scale, igniting excitement among cricket fans worldwide.
