India's 25-run defeat to New Zealand in the third Test marked a humiliating conclusion to the series, resulting in a clean sweep of 0-3.
India handed Test series sweep by New Zealand
It was a massive setback for the Rohit Sharma-led Team India, as it is only the second time they have been whitewashed at home, and the first time in a series of three or more matches. The only other instance of India being clean-swept at home occurred in 2000 against South Africa, who won the series 2-0.
Despite the seemingly modest target of 146 runs, the challenging conditions made it a competitive chase. India needed exceptional performances to secure victory, but their batting lineup, with the exception of Rishabh Pant's 64 runs, fell short. Ultimately, India's lackluster performance led to a well-deserved defeat.
It was Ajaz Patel stood out with his exceptional performance for New Zealand, claiming six wickets and bundling out India for a paltry 121 runs. This crushing defeat dealt a significant blow to India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. As a result, India's Percentage Points (PCT) dropped to 58.33, causing them to slip to second place in the WTC table.
How can India qualify for WTC 2023-2025 final after drubbing by New Zealand?
India's path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final has become significantly more challenging following their series defeat to New Zealand. India had hoped to secure a clean sweep against New Zealand at home, which would have allowed them to achieve their qualification goal with one win and two draws on their upcoming tour of Australia. However, New Zealand's dominant performance has severely jeopardized India's chances.
To qualify for the WTC final after this defeat, India would need to achieve an improbable 4-0 series win against Australia. Given India's current form and the formidable challenge posed by Australia, this scenario appears highly unlikely.
New Zealand's victory has also boosted their own chances of qualifying for the WTC final. They have climbed to the fourth position in the WTC table. With an upcoming three-match home series against England, a strong performance could potentially secure their place in the final, making for a surprising turn of events in the WTC race.
Let's have a look at the WTC 2023-2025 points table:
| Pos | Team | Match | Wins | Loss | Draw | Points | PCT |
| 1 | Australia | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 90 | 62.50 |
| 2 | India | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 98 | 58.33 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 55.56 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 72 | 54.55 |
| 5 | South Africa | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 54.17 |
| 6 | England | 19 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 93 | 40.79 |
| 7 | Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 33.33 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 27.50 |
| 9 | West Indies | 9 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 18.52 |
