At the start of the three Test series against New Zealand, India were firm favourites to win the series. New Zealand put up a good show and were even in the ascendancy for a brief while in the first 2 Tests. However, in the 3rd Test apart from a few moments early on in the first day, they were totally outplayed by the hosts. Kohli won his 10th Test as skipper of India and this was just the 4th time that India have registered a clean sweep against the opposition in a series of 3 or more Tests.

For the 3rd time in the series, Virat Kohli won the toss and once again he had no hesitation in opting to bat on a pitch that was expected to be good for batting on the first 2 days but was expected to assist the spinners from day 3. This was the 7th toss in succession that Kohli had won on home soil. Gautam Gambhir was making a comeback after 2 years and he got into his stride straight away, hooking Matt Henry for 2 sixes. New Zealand stuck to their task and reduced India to 100/3 when Ajinkya Rahane joined his skipper, Virat Kohli at the crease. Prior to this Test, Kohli hadn’t scored a fifty in this series and was determined to make this innings count.

Both batsmen started slowly and were initially content to play the bowling on his merit. New Zealand tested Rahane with the short ball and even though he appeared ungainly at times he put a price on his wicket and hung in there. Rahane reached his fifty by hitting Jeetan Patel for a huge six over mid-wicket. Both the batsmen gradually increased the scoring rate when New Zealand took the second new ball. Kohli reached his century by guiding Henry for a single through cover. Even though there was a run out appeal, he was safe and this was his 13th Test century and 1st at home since March 2013. At stumps on the first day, India were 267/3 and looked set to press home the advantage.

On the 2nd day, the New Zealand bowlers continued to bombard Rahane with the short ball but he was equal to the task and started pulling the bowlers with aplomb. Rahane turned Trent Boult for a single to fine leg and reached his 8th Test century. After reaching their respective centuries both batsmen looked to up the ante and score at a quicker rate so that they could set up the declaration and give the Kiwis a few uncomfortable overs to bat before the end of the day’s play. Apart from the odd loose stroke, Kohli played a chanceless innings and reached his second double century as captain of India. He was finally dismissed for 211 when he was LBW off the bowling of Jeetan Patel. This was his highest Test score. Rohit Sharma walked in at the fall of Kohli’s wicket and soon got into stride hitting Jeetan Patel over long on for six. Rahane was caught behind by Watling off the bowling of Boult and India were 504/5. Rohit continued to go after the bowling and scored an impressive 51*. India finally declared at 557/5. New Zealand were 28 for no loss at stumps on the 2nd day.

On the 3rd morning, New Zealand batted resolutely and confidently against the Indian attack. They went after both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and didn’t let the Indian spinners settle. Ashwin finally provided the breakthrough when he caught and bowled Tom Latham. Ashwin again struck a few overs later when he bowled Kane Williamson. There was soon a flurry of wickets and New Zealand were reduced to 143/5. New Zealand’s tail wagged a bit but Ashwin was in unstoppable form and bamboozled the Kiwis with subtle changes in pace, line and length. He was getting a lot of turn from the wicket. The only sizable contributions were from Martin Guptill and James Neesham who scored 72 and 71 respectively. New Zealand were bowled out for 299, giving India a lead of 258 runs. Ashwin finished with figures of 6/81. India opted against enforcing the follow on in order to give their bowlers some rest.
In their second innings, India decided to go after the bowling and score at a much quicker rate in order to declare and give themselves sufficient time to bowl out the Kiwis in the second innings. Gautam Gambhir played a brave knock scoring 50 off just 56 balls in spite of having an injured shoulder. Pujara went after the bowling and scored an unbeaten 101 off just 148 balls with 9 fours. India declared at 216/3 and set the Kiwis a stiff target of 475 in a minimum of 135 overs.

Umesh Yadav struck in his very first over with the new ball getting Tom Latham LBW for 6 and that gave India a fillip. Ashwin got Williamson LBW to a peach of a delivery that spun sharply. Since it was a 4th day wicket, the ball was starting to spin sharply and there was variable bounce as well. Ross Taylor had been in poor form in this series and he counter attacked hitting Ashwin for 2 fours and a six, scoring 15 runs off the over. However, Ashwin got him a few overs later when Taylor tried to slog sweep a delivery that was too full for the shot and ended up castling him. After that there was a steady procession of wickets as Ashwin ran through the middle and lower order. The Kiwis were bowled out for 153 and India had won by a mammoth margin of 321 runs. Ashwin ended up with figures of 7/59 in the 2nd innings.

The margin of victory was India’s 2nd most comprehensive ever in terms of runs. Ashwin took his 21st five wicket haul in Tests and his 6th haul of 10 wickets in a match. For his match figures of 13/140, Ashwin was named the Man of the Match and was also the Man of the series for his 27 wickets. This was his 7th Man of the Series award and is the most by an Indian in Test cricket. India thoroughly deserved their series victory and strengthen their hold as the number one team in Tests.