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It was in late 2012, when England toured India for a four-match Test series, when India tasted a series defeat at home for the last time.
New Zealand became the first team after 4331 days to win a Test series in India (AP)
All good things come to an end. Well, a twelve-year tenure is a good period for a good thing to last. Or so the Indian Cricket Team will tell themselves, as their undefeated streak of wins in Tests at home came to a bitter end against New Zealand in the second Test at Pune.
India have been impenetrable at home in Tests, having made it nearly impossible for teams to even fathom defeating them in the sub-continent.
Many have come with their might, such as the mighty Australia, and the enterprising England, but none managed to achieve what the Kiwis have this year,
With India’s loss in the second Test to New Zealand, New Zealand went up 2-0 in the three-match series, thereby sealing their first-ever Test series win in India, while also handing India their first-ever Test series loss at home since 2012.
In simpler terms, India were undefeated in Tests for a whopping 4331 days at home, a feat unparalled.
Last Home Series Loss in Tests
| Team | Year | Days |
| India | 2012 | 4331 |
| South Africa | 2020 | 1733 |
| Australia | 2021 | 1377 |
| England | 2021 | 1231 |
| Zimbabwe | 2023 | 620 |
| Sri Lanka | 2023 | 457 |
| New Zealand | 2024 | 229 |
| Bangladesh | 2024 | 206 |
| West Indies | 2024 | 70 |
| Pakistan | 2024 | 53 |
But, today it all came crashing for India.
Mitchell Santner was merely unstoppable, as the wily spinner wove nothing but trouble for the Indians, with two sensational fifers in the match, nothcing up a magical ten-wicket haul for the ages.
Rohit Sharma and co. failed to capitalise on the tantalizing start they were off to, thanks to a young blistering Yashasvi Jaiswal, and inherently crumbled to the pressure, handing NZ a 113-run win and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The Last Time India Lost A Test Series At Home
It was in late 2012, when England toured India for a four-match Test series, when India tasted a series defeat at home for the last time.
India won the first Test by 9 wickets, and it seemed that the hosts would continue the domination at home.
However, in the next two Tests – in Mumbai and Kolkata – England inflicted humiliating defeats on the hosts to take a 2-1 lead heading into the final Test.
India’s luck would run out in the final test as well, as all they could manage was a hard-fought draw, to hand over the series to the Englishmen.
Since then, India have played 18 Test series and two standalone Tests (against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which resulted in wins for India).
But alas, nothing ever lasts, and now the Gautam Gambhir era of Indian Cricket has come with its fair share of new challenges as India will now be placed in a precarious position, with qualification for the WTC Final hanging in the fine balance.
