:New Zealand capped a tough tour of Asia with an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep in India, while the bruised and battered home team will face uncomfortable questions ahead of their trip to Australia for five Tests.

The Black Caps spinners ran rampant on a challenging wicket in Mumbai to dismiss India for 121 in the second innings and secure a famous 25-run victory on the third day of Sunday’s third and final Test.

The last time India were whitewashed at home was in 2000, in a two-match series against South Africa, and Rohit Sharma’s team was completely outplayed by the tourists in different conditions.

“We’re elated. Looking back at the start of the series and now in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job in the last three Tests,” said New Zealand’s new permanent skipper Tom Latham, who took over after from a 2 Defeat -0 in Sri Lanka.

“We talk about it after every Test match, trying to back it up, and I guess to finally do it here in Mumbai on a completely different surface, one that challenged us with bat and ball, we are very happy.

“Just being able to adapt to each terrain… Different guys stepped up at different times. That’s the beauty of team sport. It was a great team effort all the way around. I’m proud of the guys.”

India have fallen to second place behind Australia in the World Test Championship table and will need a strong effort to reach a third consecutive final next year.

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 revolving pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai-born player of the match Ajaz Patel finished with 6-57, his second five-wicket haul in the match, while teammate Glenn Phillips took 3-42 to help the hosts achieve a low score again in the series. .

“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 stunned India with their pace to win the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first Test victory in India in 36 years, and concluded the series days later on a decisive wicket in Pune with a 113-run victory.

DENT TRUST

In Mumbai, New Zealand stayed cool in oppressive heat and humidity to dismantle India, denting the hosts’ confidence ahead of facing Australia from November 22.

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.

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

He now has just a half-century in 10 innings, with six single-digit scores.

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.

An out-of-form Virat Kohli didn’t last long after reaching the crease as he edged past Patel to slide in one.

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 in a heap, with Washington Sundar the last to go as they 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,” Rohit said.

“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.