:New Zealand completed an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep in India as the Black Caps defeated the hosts for 121 on a difficult wicket to secure a 25-run victory on the third day of the third and final Test in Mumbai on Sunday.

The last time India were whitewashed at home was in 2000, in a two-match series against South Africa, and Rohit Sharma’s side will feel the pressure ahead of a challenging five-match series against Australia starting later this month.

Rishabh Pant was the only Indian batsman to show resistance as he made a sublime 64 after the hosts were reduced to 29-5 on a track at the Wankhede Stadium.

Man of the match Ajaz Patel claimed 6-57, his second five-wicket haul in the match, while teammate Glenn Phillips took 3-42 to help the hosts once again claim a famous victory.

“It’s very special, first of all, to win a test match here on this historic ground, but also to win a series 3-0,” said Daryl Mitchell, who scored 82 in the first innings.

“It’s something you dream about. To come here and achieve it is very special against a world-class Indian team.

“…We’re just a bunch of Kiwis conquering the world.”

The tourists won the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first Test victory in India in 36 years, and concluded the series in Pune with a 113-run victory.

New Zealand’s first series win in India, dating back to 1955, also broke the hosts’ 18-match home winning streak since a 2-1 loss to England in 2012.

Sharma first bowled out of his crease to hit Matt Henry for a four in the day’s opener, but the captain’s recent disappointing run continued when he fell for 11 after a rash shot against the same bowler.

Patel took two wickets in two overs when Shubman Gill, who had scored a splendid 90 in the first innings, left a ball that crashed into the stumps and went for one.

Virat Kohli didn’t last long after reaching the crease as he beat Patel to slide in one and leave India in trouble at 18-3 on a tricky Wankhede Stadium pitch.

The crowd fell silent again when Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught lbw for five by Glenn Phillips and Sarfaraz Khan bowled a full toss from Patel straight to Rachin Ravindra in the deep for one.

Ravindra Jadeja steadied the ship alongside Pant in a 42-run stand, but a stunning catch by Will Young meant India were on the ropes at 71-6.

Patel dismissed Pant following a New Zealand review after lunch, although the batsman appeared to suggest he had not made contact with the ball before it was caught.

The runs dried up after that and India collapsed with Washington Sundar being the last to go as he looked to go big.

“Losing a series, losing a Test match is never easy. It’s not easy to swallow. But we didn’t play our best cricket and we accepted that. New Zealand played better than us throughout.

“There were a lot of mistakes we made, we accepted that… As captain, I was not at my best leading the team and with the bat as well.”

New Zealand resumed their second innings at 171-9 earlier, but India needed just 14 balls to remove the Black Caps, as Jadeja trapped Patel in the deep to finish at 5-55, after scoring five in the first stanza.