Cricket

The India vs New Zealand Test series concluded with a resounding 3-0 sweep in favor of the visitors, largely due to the exceptional bowling performance of Ajaz Patel. The Kiwi spinner emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series, claiming an astonishing 15 wickets in three matches, including a remarkable 11-wicket haul at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.Despite Patel's impressive tally, former India batter Mohammad Kaif has dismissed the spinner's quality, claiming that India has bowlers of his caliber in every club. Kaif criticized the Indian team for allowing Patel to take so many wickets, attributing it to poor batting rather than exceptional bowling."Ajaz Patel didn't bowl well," Kaif said in a social media video. "If you look at his pitch map, he bowled two full-tosses, two short balls, and two length deliveries but still managed to take wickets."Kaif also ridiculed New Zealand's part-time spinner Glenn Phillips, who claimed four wickets in the Mumbai Test. "Glenn Phillips is a part-timer and he doesn't know how to bowl good deliveries," Kaif said. "We lost to part-timers and not to quality spinners."The only New Zealand spinner who earned Kaif's praise was Mitchell Santner, who took 11 wickets in the Pune Test before being ruled out of the final match due to injury. "Santner did bowl well," Kaif said. "The bowling he produced in Pune was a classic Test match performance."Kaif's comments have sparked debate among cricket fans and experts. Some have questioned his assessment of Patel's bowling, while others have agreed with his criticism of the Indian batting. Regardless of the differing opinions, Patel's performance in the series has undoubtedly been a major factor in New Zealand's dominant victory.

New Zealand's historic 3-0 Test series sweep over India has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Former Kiwi batter Ross Taylor expressed his astonishment at the team's remarkable achievement, stating that a clean sweep was beyond their wildest dreams.The visitors dominated the series from start to finish, showcasing their superiority in all departments. Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner wreaked havoc with the ball, while Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, and Devon Conway led the charge with the bat.Taylor hailed the team's performance as a testament to their hard work and determination. "I think the way they played throughout the whole series... I think we hoped more than thought we were going to win," he said. "But a clean sweep - I think it still hasn't quite sunk in among the New Zealand public, probably for the players as well."The series victory has provided a much-needed boost to cricket in New Zealand, a nation where rugby reigns supreme. "Cricket is fighting for an audience," Taylor noted. "After losing in Sri Lanka, the press after that has changed around completely. I don't think we've had scenes like this since winning the (last) World Test Championship."Taylor believes the team's success in India will inspire future generations of Kiwi cricketers. "It just tells you how high the New Zealand cricket public holds the Indian cricket team and what it's like to go and win over there," he said. "After winning the first Test, it gave the team as well as the public some belief, but I don't think even in our wildest dreams we imagined a clean sweep."New Zealand's triumph is a testament to their resilience and adaptability. They overcame challenging conditions, including India's spin-friendly pitches, to secure a historic victory. The series sweep will undoubtedly go down as one of the most memorable moments in New Zealand cricket history.

Will Young's rise to prominence in the New Zealand Test team has been a testament to his resilience and determination. After years of waiting in the wings as a reserve batter, Young seized the opportunity to make his mark in the historic 3-0 Test series win over India.With Kane Williamson sidelined due to injury, Young was thrust into the spotlight. However, instead of feeling the pressure, he embraced the challenge as a chance to establish his own identity. "I've been in and out through form or selection," Young said. "I've been a reserve batter for a number of years now, so I've come to know the feeling of running the drinks really well."Young's confidence stemmed from his preparation and the support of his teammates. "We had three really good camps leading into the series back home, and he [Williamson] was at those camps," Young said. "But it's great at the moment because we've got fantastic batters all throughout our line-up."Young's approach was to play to his strengths and not try to imitate Williamson. "I try not to bat like Kane, I try to bat like me and do it my own way," he said.The series victory was particularly satisfying for Young, as it marked the first time a New Zealand team had beaten India 3-0 on their home soil. "As a New Zealander coming over here and playing in Indian conditions, it's always going to be slightly more satisfaction of scoring runs against spin," Young said.Young's contributions were crucial, particularly in the third Test at Mumbai, where his scores of 71 and 51 helped New Zealand secure the series win. He finished the series as the third-highest run-getter, behind Rishabh Pant and Rachin Ravindra.Young's success is a reminder that even in the shadow of greatness, there is always an opportunity to shine. By embracing his own style and seizing his chance, he has become an integral part of New Zealand's Test team.

New Zealand's historic Test series triumph over India has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Led by the astute captaincy of Tom Latham, the Kiwis achieved an unprecedented clean sweep, marking India's first-ever 0-3 series defeat at home.Latham's leadership proved pivotal in navigating the challenging tour of India, a team renowned for its home dominance. Despite New Zealand's limited success in India, Latham instilled a sense of calm and methodical approach, maintaining team morale throughout the series.The Kiwis' adaptability was a key factor in their success. Latham praised the contributions of various players, highlighting the team's ability to adjust to different conditions. The seamers excelled in Bangalore, while different batsmen stepped up at crucial moments.Ajaz Patel emerged as the player of the match in the third Test, claiming 11 wickets for 160 runs. Will Young, with 244 runs in the series, earned the player-of-the-series award.Latham acknowledged the inspiration drawn from the New Zealand women's team's T20 World Cup victory. He emphasized the importance of runs on the board, especially when chasing on tricky wickets.Despite a disappointing 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka prior to the India series, Latham remained confident in his team's abilities. He attributed their success to winning crucial tosses and posting competitive totals.New Zealand's historic triumph is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and the leadership of Tom Latham. It marks a significant milestone in the rivalry between the two cricketing giants.

Team India's dismal performance in the Test series against New Zealand has sparked a debate about the players' preparation. Despite a comprehensive victory against Bangladesh, India's lack of match practice has been cited as a major factor in their 0-3 loss.According to reports, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah had initially agreed to participate in the Duleep Trophy as part of their preparations for the Bangladesh and New Zealand series. However, they later withdrew, citing "lack of motivation."The selectors had made arrangements for the quartet's participation in the tournament, which was held from September 5 to 22. However, their withdrawal left a void in the domestic competition, which was intended to provide match practice for players ahead of the international assignments.Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that the lack of practice contributed to India's poor performance. "They should have had some practice, definitely. It's a long gap," he said. "New Zealand, obviously, had a better attack, with cricketers who have played in India and in the IPL, who have a sense of what Indian pitches do."The report also claims that Ravindra Jadeja was pulled out of the Duleep Trophy campaign by the selectors after Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, and Ashwin's withdrawal. Among those India stars who featured in the Test series against the Kiwis, only Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Washington Sundar had participated in the domestic tournament.While Jadeja made an impact with a 10-wicket haul in the Mumbai Test, Rohit, Kohli, and Ashwin struggled. Bumrah, on the other hand, had little help from the spin-friendly tracks.The lack of match practice has raised questions about the BCCI's preparation strategy for the Indian team. Experts believe that the players need more competitive matches to stay sharp and adapt to different conditions.

New Zealand's historic 3-0 Test series sweep of India has been hailed as a testament to their adaptability and aggressive approach. Captain Tom Latham, who led the charge, attributed the victory to the team's collective effort and willingness to take risks."We're very, very ecstatic," Latham said after the 25-run victory in Mumbai. "We spoke about it after each Test match. We were trying to back it up, and I guess to finally do it here in Mumbai, on a completely different surface, one that would challenge us certainly with bat and ball - yeah, we're pretty happy."Latham emphasized the importance of adapting to different conditions, a key factor in their success. "I think just being able to adapt to each ground [gives the most satisfaction]," he said.The all-round performance of the team was crucial, with fast bowlers and Rachin Ravindra setting the tone in Bengaluru, and Mitchell Santner's 13-wicket haul sealing the series in Pune."We wanted to come over here and try to fire a few shots... and I certainly think we've done that," Latham said. "We've been a little bit more aggressive with the bat, tried to be a little bit more proactive, and again, with the ball, we've tried to keep things simple, understand how India play a little bit, and just try to do our best."The Mumbai Test witnessed the emergence of Ajaz Patel as a match-winner. After struggling in previous innings, Patel bagged 11 wickets in the game, including a 10-wicket haul in the second innings."Spin bowling's a little bit about rhythm, and sometimes when you're in rhythm, it's about making the most of it," Patel said. "And when the conditions present themselves to you, you have to take it by the horns and really do something for your team."New Zealand's victory marks the first time a visiting team has beaten India in a home Test series of at least three games in 12 years. It is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and aggressive approach.

India's humiliating 3-0 Test series defeat at home against New Zealand has left captain Rohit Sharma grappling with a bitter pill to swallow. The skipper acknowledged the team's collective failure, citing numerous mistakes and a lack of top-notch cricket.Chasing a modest 147 to salvage some pride, India collapsed to a dismal 121 all out. Despite Rishabh Pant's valiant 64, the team's batting woes continued, with the top order crumbling to 29 for 5. Pant's dismissal to a controversial third-umpire decision proved to be the final nail in the coffin."Losing a series, losing a Test match is never easy, but [this is] something that is not easily digested," Rohit lamented. "We didn't play our best cricket. We know that and we accept that. New Zealand played better than us throughout the series."Rohit highlighted the team's inability to post substantial first-innings totals in the first two Tests, putting them on the back foot. He also acknowledged the younger players' ability to score runs on challenging pitches, while he and Virat Kohli struggled."Those guys showed how to bat on these surfaces," Rohit said of the younger lot. "You have to be slightly ahead, and be proactive when you're playing on a pitch like that."Rohit's own batting form has been under scrutiny, with only one half-century in the series. He admitted to being disappointed with his performance and acknowledged that his captaincy could have been better.Despite the setbacks, Rohit remained optimistic about the team's future. "We are aware of what we need to do," he said. "It's just that, this was an unfortunate series where it didn't come off."

Pakistan's remarkable comeback series victory against England was marred by a post-match controversy involving legendary commentator Ramiz Raja and skipper Shan Masood. Raja's interview with Masood drew criticism on social media, prompting a strong reaction from pacer Mohammad Amir.After Pakistan's opening Test defeat to England, they rallied to win the next two matches and secure a 2-1 series triumph. However, Raja's post-match interview with Masood raised eyebrows."There are two things that you will see. One is how to play on seaming conditions and the other thing is if it is a one-off. How did you achieve this, six losses in a row?" Raja asked Masood.Masood responded: "Ramiz bhai, we needed this win. The nation needed this win and I am really happy for Pakistan."The interview sparked outrage on social media, with many fans criticizing Raja's tone and questioning his motives. Amir also took to Twitter to express his displeasure, calling Raja's comments "unprofessional."Raja later issued a clarification, stating that his intention was not to belittle Masood but to highlight the team's struggles in recent months.Masood, breaking his silence on the matter, said he holds no grudges against Raja. "There are no hard feelings from my side," he told BBC Stumped. "I've always been an open book in front of the media and tried to conduct myself in the best possible way."Masood also addressed the absence of Babar Azam from the second and third Tests against England. He expressed hope that the break would benefit Azam in the upcoming white-ball series against Australia.

New Zealand's stunning 2-0 Test series victory over India has left the hosts reeling, according to wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell. The Black Caps' historic triumph marks their first-ever Test series win in India and the first by a visiting team in 12 years.Blundell believes the Indian team has been caught off guard by New Zealand's unexpected dominance. "They're a little bit shell-shocked," he said. "When we first came over, they had a slogan on TV saying five-nil for their home summer. I'm pretty sure they wrote us off coming after Sri Lanka."The Black Caps' success has been built on a combination of strong batting, disciplined bowling, and astute captaincy. Blundell praised the team's ability to adapt to the challenging conditions in India. "We've come out and competed and played some really good cricket to beat these guys - one of the best teams in the world," he said.Despite their commanding lead, New Zealand is not taking anything for granted in the third and final Test in Mumbai. Blundell said the team is determined to complete a series sweep. "We've got a possibility of beating them 3-0," he said. "But regardless of that, we're pretty chuffed."The victory in India has given New Zealand a major boost ahead of their home summer, which includes three Tests against England. Blundell said the team will be filled with confidence after their historic achievement. "What we've achieved here is pretty immense," he said. "We're excited. We've got a possibility of beating them 3-0. But regardless of that, we're pretty chuffed."