IND vs NZ: India are staring at a rare home series whitewash against New Zealand in Mumbai. (BCCI)
India’s superior home Test win streak came to a grinding halt last week in Pune when New Zealand stunned the hosts for an eight-wicket win to clinch the three-match series.
The ignominy added to a harrowing defeat in Bengaluru in the first Test where Rohit Sharma’s side was also bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score (46) at home.
With the record of 18 consecutive series wins at home coming to an end, India are also on the brink of conceding an even rarer feat; falling on the wrong side of a series whitewash at home. But has it happened before?
India’s supreme Test record
India have played 293 Tests since at home, dating back to their first-ever appearance at the Bombay Gymkhana Ground in December 1933. India have won 120 of those 293 games, the third-most by an side at home, behind Australia and England. Throughout the course of the 90 years, India have only lost 57 Tests in their backyard, the least among the six teams to have played at least 200 Test matches.
India’s home Test win-loss ratio of 2.105 is only bettered by Australia (2.539) across 445 matches.
Have India been whitewashed at home in Tests?
Across 89 home series, India have only endured defeats in 18 series. New Zealand became only the third side to win a Test series in India in the 21st century, also a first since England’s 2-1 series win in 2012. The Kiwis now stand a chance of recording the first-ever instance of whitewashing India in a Test series at home (with 3 or more matches) when the third Test begins at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
The only other instance of India being clean-swpet at home in a series comprising at least two games was against South Africa (2-0 in a two-match series in 2000). England (1-0 in Golden Jubilee Test, 1979/80) and Pakistan (Asian Championship, 1999) have recorded wins over India in a one-off games.
How many times have India lost three Tests in a series at home?
Four. The last of which came against the West Indies in 1983, losing three games in a six-match series. The Windies have also managed the feat in 1958 and 1974, while Australia (1969) and England (1976) achieved once each.
India and Test whitewashes (min. 3 matches)
At Home: Effected – 5 times; Lost – 0.
Away: Effected – 1; Lost – 8.
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