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New Zealand recently ended India’s unbeaten streak of 18 Test series at home by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing three-match series.
The third and final Test gets underway from Friday in Mumbai. (BCCI Photo)
New Zealand have always proven to be India’s bogey team at global tournaments. And now they have become the first team since 2012 to defeat India in a Test series on their own backyard. It also ended India’s winning streak of 18 Test series win at home. Former captain and seasoned fast bowler Tim Southee says India are one of the two toughest places in the world to play Test cricket.
“Yeah, I think you just look at the history,” Southee told Cricbuzz while responding to a query on whether an India tour is the toughest assignment in cricket. “What is it, 12 years that someone’s been able to do and 18 series or whatever it is. It’s a very, very tough place to come. I think if you look at it from my perspective and the cricket I’ve played in the past however many years, I think you look at India and Australia are the two places that are probably the most difficult to tour. Both the conditions, the quality of the opposition and how good they are at home makes it a tough place to tour.”
New Zealand utilised the seam and swing friendly conditions of the Bengaluru Test to record an eight-wicket win and then on a pitch that assisted spin, outclassed India to win by 113 runs inside three days and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The performance, Southee says, proves that India are not invincible at home.
“…I think you look at this one in particular, 12 years, 18 series. It’s nice to be that side that’s broken that run. I guess it shows to other teams around the world that it is possible to beat India in India,” he said.
New Zealand have been India’s bogey team, especially in the global events. It was under the captaincy of Kane Williamson that New Zealand became the first ever winner of the ICC World Test Championship when they beat Indi in the final in 2021.
Southee feels that the current series triumph in India is on the same level as winning the WTC title.
“I think you look back and it’s hard to go past the World Test Championship and winning the World Test Championship. But this is right up there, if not equal to that. I think it’s hard to go past those two. It’s certainly been a highlight of my career so far,” he said.
