Dominant New Zealand beat India by 113 runs to clinch Test series 2-0, India's home dominance end

New Zealand also ended India's 18-series home dominance with the victory in Pune.

This is the first time New Zealand clinched a Test series in India.

The loss also damaged India's World Test Championship hopes.

India’s fourth-innings pursuit of a daunting 359-run target faced early setbacks and ultimately fell short, as New Zealand’s spinners maintained their dominance on the home team whose record in home series had been dominating so far.

India's senior duo Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin tried to counterattack in the final session but fell short by handsome margin in front of a passionate Kiwi bowling.

However, with Ashwin dismissed for 18 by Santner, and Ajaz Patel wrapping up the innings by dismissing Jadeja for a defiant 42, New Zealand capped off a dominant performance with a game to spare in the three-match series which is assumed to be crucial ahead of India's upcoming Australia tour.

Seasoned spinner Mitchell Santner, who has a strong IPL record, proved the standout player for New Zealand, taking a remarkable 13 wickets in the match.

Earlier, New Zealand set up their lead with valuable contributions from Phillips and Tom Blundell which left the Indian bowling attack frustrated.

Despite spirited efforts by Jadeja, who bagged crucial wickets in a late flurry, the Indian bowlers could not disrupt the batting line up of hosts.

In India’s chase, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill initially showed promise, adding 81 for the first wicket by lunch. Jaiswal reached a brisk half-century, amassing 77 runs off 41 balls with a flurry of boundaries.

However, his dismissal triggered a collapse. Gill departed soon after for 23, and the middle order crumbled under mounting pressure. Notably, Virat Kohli’s struggles continued as he fell for 17, while Rishabh Pant was run out for a duck, a significant blow to India’s pursuit.

India will now play the insignificant final Test in Mumbai.