Sachin Tendulkar congratulates Mitchell Santner & Co. on “phenomenal achievement”

New Zealand cricket. (Source – Getty Images)

What New Zealand achieved on October 26, 2024, was no ordinary feat by any measure. The second Test of the three-match series was comprehensively won by the Black Caps. This came in addition to their rout in Bengaluru, which essentially meant that they had finally managed to accomplish what no other side could do for not one, not two, but 12 long years. It’s not a normal occurrence for opposition teams to come to India and make the home team’s batting order falter the way New Zealand’s bowlers made them dance to their tunes – through pace and spin in the two Tests, respectively.

It’s not everyday that legends of the game like former India maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, comment on an overseas side’s performance midway through a series. However, such was the conviction of New Zealand’s display throughout the game played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune and the one preceding the recently-concluded one in Bengaluru.

For any visiting team, to win a Test series in India is a dream, and New Zealand have played really well to make it happen.

Such results can only be achieved with good, all-round team efforts.

Special mention to Santner for his standout performance, picking up 13 wickets.… pic.twitter.com/YLqHfbQeJU

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 26, 2024

Not only did Sachin laud the massive shift put in by the New Zealand unit, but he also reserved special praise for bowling all-rounder, Mitchell Santner. Being brought in for the second Test due to the conditions in store, Santner made sure to extract every single drop of advantage there was on offer. A seven-wicket haul in India’s first piece was followed with a six-for in the fourth and final innings of the match. All this also included a priceless 33 he scored in New Zealand’s first essay which provided his side a much better cushion than they were anticipating.

Also Read: ‘New Zealand played better than us, we failed to capitalise on certain moments’ – Captain Rohit Sharma after Test series loss

NZ create history with first away series triumph in WTC

The iconic triumph meant much more for New Zealand than it can be imagined. This win meant they had won their first away series after being unable to break their winless streak for seven such series since the commencement of the World Test Championship in 2019.

Also Read: WTC 2023-25 Points Table: Here’s a look at latest standings after New Zealand’s second Test win against India

This was also New Zealand’s first series victory against India in India. Preluding the two victories, the Black Caps had won on just two episodes – at Green Park in 1969 and the Wankhede Stadium in 1988.