India faced another defeat in Pune after their loss in Bengaluru. On Saturday, New Zealand defeated India by 113 runs on the third day of the second Test, climbing to fourth place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. This defeat has caused a drop in India’s points percentage.
Impact of Consecutive Losses on India
The World Test Championship final is set to take place at the historic Lord’s ground next June. Although India currently leads the points table, their consecutive losses against New Zealand have lowered their points percentage. Before the Pune Test loss, India’s points percentage was 68.06, which has now dropped to 62.82.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has climbed from fifth to fourth place, with an improved points percentage of 50. Now, to qualify for the WTC final, India will need to win four out of their remaining six Test matches. India is set to play the third Test against New Zealand starting on November 1, followed by a tour of Australia next month for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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India Loses a Test Series at Home After 12 Years
For the first time in 12 years, India has lost a Test series at home. This also ends their streak of 17 consecutive Test series wins on home soil. The last time India lost a home Test series was in 2012-13, when England defeated them 2-1 in a four-match series. Since then, India had won 18 consecutive series. However, New Zealand has now ended this streak.
Few anticipated that the Kiwis would perform so strongly on Indian soil. By winning the first Test, New Zealand achieved their first Test victory in India in 36 years. Now, they have claimed their first-ever Test series win in India. The first Test between India and New Zealand was played in 1955, and this marks the first time in 69 years of Test history between the two nations that New Zealand has won a Test series on Indian soil.
