Yuvraj Singh took to social media to express his thoughts after New Zealand’s remarkable 3-0 victory over India in the Test series. The Kiwis secured a 25-run win in the third Test held in Mumbai, marking a historic moment for both teams. This defeat means India suffered a whitewash in a home Test series for the first time since 2000.
Yuvraj Singh Reacts to Team India’s Historic Whitewash
In his tweet, Yuvraj wrote: “Cricket truly is a humbling sport, isn’t it? Just months after our T20 World Cup win, we face a historic whitewash. That’s the beauty of this game! Bigger tests lie ahead with the Australia series & the way forward is to introspect, learn and look up! Congratulations to the @BLACKCAPS on a well-rounded performance and a historic win ”
Yuvraj acknowledged that even after recent success, challenges remain. He highlighted the importance of learning from this experience as India prepares for their next series against Australia.
New Zealand’s Dominance in the Series
New Zealand’s victory came as a result of strong performances throughout the series. In the first Test in Bengaluru, fast bowlers and Rachin Ravindra set the tone for success. Mitchell Santner then played a crucial role in securing the series with a 13-wicket haul in the second Test in Pune. The final Test in Mumbai showcased another star, Ajaz Patel, who took 11 wickets in the match.
In Mumbai, Ajaz followed up his first innings performance of 5 for 103 with an impressive 6 for 57 in the second innings. His ability to exploit conditions at Wankhede Stadium was key to New Zealand’s success. Despite India’s early collapse, Rishabh Pant stood out with a determined 64 runs but could not save his team from defeat.
Impact on India’s World Test Championship Standing
India’s loss has significant implications for their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. After being at the top, they have now slipped to second place following this defeat. Their chance to qualify for the WTC final has also been affected. Currently, India holds a points percentage of 58.33 after eight wins and five losses from 14 matches.
The defeat comes as a wake-up call for Rohit Sharma’s team as they prepare for their upcoming five-match series against Australia. To secure their place in the WTC final, they must win at least four of these matches. The pressure is on as they look to bounce back from this historic setback.
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham Shine for New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell was another key player for New Zealand during this series. He scored an important 82 runs in New Zealand’s first innings total of 235 during the final Test. This was his first half-century of the tour after struggling to score more than 20 runs in previous innings. Additionally, he excelled in the field, taking eight catches across all three Tests.
Will Young also made significant contributions despite Kane Williamson’s absence due to injury. Young amassed 244 runs throughout the series and earned the Player-of-the-Series award. His composed innings included twin half-centuries on challenging tracks.
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