:New Zealand ended a difficult Asian tour with an unprecedented 3-0 run in India, while the bruised and battered home side will face uncomfortable questions ahead of their trip to Australia for five Tests.

Black Caps spinners pounced on a challenging Mumbai wicket to dismiss India for 121 in the second innings and secure a famous 25-run win on the third day of the third and final Test on Sunday.

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

“We’re ecstatic. Looking back at the start of the series to now be 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 a 2. – 0 defeat in Sri Lanka.

“We’ve talked about it after every Test match, trying to back it up and I think we’re finally doing it here in Mumbai on a completely different surface, one that has challenged us with bat and ball, we’re quite happy.

“Just being able to adjust to every pitch … Different guys stepped up at different times. That’s the beauty of team sports. It was a tremendous team effort. I’m proud of the guys.”

India have slipped to second place below Australia in the World Test Championship rankings and will need a big effort to reach their third consecutive final next year.

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

Mumbai-born man of the match Ajaz Patel finished with 6-57, his second five-wicket haul of the match, while fellow spinner Glenn Phillips took 3-42 to help the hosts skibble for a score small again in series. .

“It’s very special first of all to win a Test match here at 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 that is pretty special against a world-class Indian team.

“We’re just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world.”

The tourists stunned India with pace to win the opening match in Bengaluru by eight wickets for their first Test win in India in 36 years and wrapped up the series days later on a swinging wicket in Pune with a 113 rounds.

Jagged TRUST

In Mumbai, New Zealand kept their cool in oppressive heat and humidity to dismantle India, leaving the hosts’ confidence dented before they face Australia on November 22.

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

Rohit threw the first punch coming out full to hit Matt Henry for a four in the first over, but the skipper’s disappointing recent run continued as he fell for 11 after a blistering shot against the same bowler.

He now has just one half-century in 10 innings with six single-figure scores.

Patel made it two wickets in two overs when Shubman Gill, who had scored a splendid 90 in the first innings, left a ball crashing into the stumps and departed for one.

An out-of-form Virat Kohli didn’t last long after reaching the crease as he let Patel slip on one.

The crowd fell silent again as Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped for five by Glenn Phillips and Sarfaraz Khan hit a full toss from Patel straight to Rachin Ravindra in the deep.

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 that he did not make 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 depart as he looked to go big.

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

“There were many mistakes we made, we accept them… As a captain, I was not the best in leading the team and not the best with the bat.”

New Zealand resumed their second innings at 171-9 early but India needed just 14 balls to dismiss the Black Caps as Jadeja caught Patel in the deep to finish with 5-55 after five out in the first stanza.