Who Was The Last Team To Beat India In A Test Series At Home?

The Indian cricket team has suffered a rare and shocking Test series defeat at home, as New Zealand clinched the ongoing three-match Test series with a 113-run win in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune on Saturday (October 26).

With their 2-0 victory, the New Zealand cricket team have officially ended India’s 12-year unbeaten streak at home in Test cricket, a feat last achieved by England in 2012. Back then, England toured India for four Tests and recorded a memorable 2-1 series win.

New Zealand ends India’s 12-year winning streak at home with historic Test series win

England was the team India lost the Test series at home back in 2012. Since then, the Indian cricket team was unbeaten at home; no one could win the Test series on Indian soil. Speaking about India’s last setback back in 2012, they began the Test series with a dominant nine-wicket win over England.

However, the England cricket team came roaring back with two back-to-back wins, clinching the four-match Test series, while the fourth and final Test ended in a draw, and the tourists clinched the Test series 2-0. This was India’s last Test series loss at home.

England’s Alastair Cook was the leading run-scorer in that series with a remarkable 562 runs to lead his team to the historic victory. This series also marked the debut of two modern-era legends, Joe Root and Ravindra Jadeja, who are currently playing against the Kiwis.

New Zealand hands India rare home Test series defeat after England

Now, after 14 years, New Zealand has etched its name into history, ending India’s exceptional winning streak of 18 consecutive series wins by handing them a heartbreak in Pune. During this period, India claimed 42 Test victories, with only five losses and seven draws.

On the other hand, India’s previous home Test loss before this series was in early 2024 against England in Bengaluru, where the New Zealand team crushed the hosts by eight wickets recently. Now, the Kiwis crushed the hosts by 113 runs in Pune to secure their first Test series win against India.

Meanwhile, New Zealand became the only sixth team in the world to have recorded a Test series on Indian soil after England, Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies, and South Africa. England and the West Indies have both won five Test series in India, while Australia won four Test series, with the last coming in 2005.

Credit to India for the way they came out: Mitchell Santner on his record bowling show in Pune Test

On the other hand, Mitchell Santner (13/157) was named Player of the Match for his remarkable efforts to help the New Zealand side script history on Indian soil. His match-winnings figures are the third-best match figures as a Kiwi bowler, as well as the third-best for any team against India.

Santner’s 13/157 are also the third-best match figures by a visiting bowler in India. He said after winning the Player of the Match award, “Credit to India for the way they came out. That was the best way on that wicket. We were just hanging in. My side's a bit sore. 20 odd overs in a row. I guess in that kind of situation you just want to keep going. Every time I got a wicket, it felt a little better. Nice to contribute to the team. Winning a series over here is very tough. Obviously very pleasing for us.”