Ajaz starred as New Zealand beat India 3-0 in a historic Test win

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New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel picked up six wickets as his side secured a historic 3-0 Test victory in India with a thrilling 25-run win in the third Test on Sunday.

Chasing 147 to win, India were bowled out for 121 in 29.1 overs on the third day after Rishabh Pant scored a valiant 64 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Ajaz roared with joy as he bowled Washington Sundar to take the final wicket and the Black Caps celebrated their first Test series win on Indian soil in style.

It was the first time India had been defeated at home in a Test series since South Africa's 2-0 win in 1999/2000 and the first time they had been beaten 3-0 at home.

“This will be a very low point in my career after losing three home games,” India captain Rohit Sharma told reporters.

“I take full responsibility for that. As a leader, I wasn’t at my best from the start of the series.”

“I wasn’t good enough with the bat either.”

New Zealand achieved the unthinkable under new captain Tom Latham and in the absence of veteran batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury at home.

The Black Caps turned their fortunes around after a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka to hand India their first home Test series defeat in 12 years.

“Very excited,” Latham said. “If I look back at the start of the series, the boys have done a fantastic job in the last three Test matches to be in this position now.”

Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz ended the game with a match-winning 11 wickets at a venue where he created history by taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings in 2021.

In a tricky chase on a turning point, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5 before left-hander Pant counterattacked with his half-century.

Ajaz had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell after lunch, a decision rejected by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant trotted back.

“If we say something, it won’t be well received. If the decision is inconclusive, it has to go by the on-field umpire’s decision,” Rohit said.

“I don’t know how that decision was overturned.”

Glenn Phillips then got two in two balls and Ajaz completed the innings and was named man of the match.

India quickly defeated New Zealand for 174 in the first session with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on one turning wicket for 10 in the game.

But the New Zealand bowlers, led by Ajaz, broke into India's top order.

Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, leading the captain to hit Phillips at mid-wicket for 11.

He built on his poor performance with the bat in the series, posting scores of 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18 in his final five innings.

Ajaz bowled a delivery to Shubman Gill and then released Virat Kohli for a shot which was caught at slip by Daryl Mitchell to silence the home crowd.

Kohli also struggled in the series, with just a half-century and four single-digit scores in the series.

Pant put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the chase but Ajaz struck again, removing Jadeja for six.

Will Young's 71 and 51 in the two New Zealand innings proved crucial and he was named player of the series with 244 runs.