An Unexpected Upset: New Zealand’s Unforeseen Cricket Triumph in India
When the dust settles, both India and New Zealand will be left trying to make sense of what happened in Pune. Few could have predicted India's winning streak would come to an end against New Zealand; a team who has now tied their wins in this series with their total victories across 12 previous series stretching back to 1955. This shift might rank among the greatest upsets in cricket.
The New Zealand team faced multiple challenges including a change in captaincy after a 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka and the loss of seasoned batter, Kane Williamson due to injury. However, they managed to triumph against an Indian team at the top of the World Test Championship table, aiming for a third straight final appearance. Latham, the new captain, still struggles to put this astounding result into perspective.
Adding to the narrative was the first Test in Bengaluru, where Latham made the decision, which then cost India the match, to bat first. His bowlers ousted India, claiming their lowest Test score at home. Moreover, a rookie batter managed to seize the game against seasoned Indian spinners. This result alone warrants a top spot among New Zealand's away Test wins.
Then came Pune. Pune had conditions far more aligned to those in Bengaluru and it was expected to spin from 'ball one'. Despite this, Mitchell Santner managed to out bowl India’s experienced duo, Ashwin, and Jadeja, in his two innings. Moreover, Santner's capacity to maintain straight lines and change pace prevailed over India's strategies. New Zealand’s victory in Pune, where they had outplayed India using their own methods might even outrank the win in Bengaluru.
Like India's win at Gabba, New Zealand’s victory didn't come with a nail-biting finish, but its significance is similar. Major moments have seen New Zealand outperform India – the 2019 World Cup semi-final and WTC final in 2021 are just two instances. For a team in transition, this might just be the landmark moment that propels the next generation of New Zealand cricket.
India will be left pondering some tough questions regarding their senior players, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who have failed to produce significant performances. Amid this transition phase, India, too, faces a rough period having lost four home Tests in the last two years. Only time will reveal the lasting implications of this unexpected upset.
