Tom Latham becomes 3rd NZ captain to win a Test in India as Rohit Sharma hits new low
Published - 20 Oct 2024, 03:13 PM | Updated - 20 Oct 2024, 11:42 PM
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New Zealand skipper Tom Latham has etched his name in the record books following the victory over the Rohit Sharma-led side in the first Test. Tom Latham has become the third New Zealand skipper to record a victory in a Test match on Indian soil after legendary Graham Dowling and John Wright.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bat first after winning the toss in Bengaluru. However, this decision did not pay off for the home team. They could only set a target of 107 runs for New Zealand in the final innings. The visitors chased down the target with eight wickets in hand and took a 1-0 lead.
Tom Latham Joins Elite List Of New Zealand Skippers After Bengaluru Test Win
New Zealand's victory in Bengaluru is their first Test win in India in 36 years. With this win, Tom Latham joined the elite group of New Zealand skippers, including Graham Dowling and John Wright. They last won a Test match in India in 1988 at the Wankhede Stadium under John Wright's captaincy.
Graham Dowling became the first New Zealand captain to win a Test match in India in 1969. He led his team to a 167-run victory over Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s side in Nagpur. New Zealand had to wait another 19 years for their second Test win in India, which came in 1988 under John Wright’s captaincy.
New Zealand Test Wins in India
| Year | Venue | Margin | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Nagpur | 167 runs | Graham Dowling |
| 1988 | Wankhede | 136 runs | John Wright |
| 2024 | Bengaluru | 8 wickets | Tom Latham |
Rohit Sharma Suffers His 3rd Home Defeat As Captain In Test Cricket
New Zealand set the stage for a historic win by bowling India out for just 46 runs on the second day. It was India's third-lowest Test score at home. In response, New Zealand posted a commanding 402 runs and took a lead of 356. The hosts bounced back with 462 runs in their second innings of the game.
New Zealand successfully chased down the target of 107 in 27.4 overs. Will Young and Rachin Ravindra scored unbeaten 48 and 39, respectively. Ravindra was named Player of the Match. It was Team India's third home loss under Rohit Sharma's captaincy and their fifth home Test defeat in the last 11 years.
India Test Losses on Home Soil Since 2013
| Year | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Australia | Pune |
| 2021 | England | Chennai |
| 2023 | Australia | Indore |
| 2024 | England | Hyderabad |
| 2024 | New Zealand | Bengaluru |
The Indian team aims to bounce back in the series, with the second and third Tests scheduled for Pune and Mumbai. Rohit Sharma and his team are eager to regain their winning form. They want to secure a place in the World Test Championship final before the upcoming tour of Australia later this year.
Also read: ICC World Test Championship Points Table, WTC Table After IND vs NZ 1st Test 2024
