5 unwanted records India set during loss in 2nd IND vs NZ Test 2024
India has long held the reputation of being nearly invincible on home soil, with an astonishing record of Test series victories over the past decade. This dominance has been fortified by powerful performances from India’s batting lineup and formidable spin attack, making it exceedingly challenging for visiting teams to gain the upper hand.
However, during the 2024 home series against New Zealand, the Indian team faced unexpected struggles. The New Zealand side, led by their resilient bowling unit, clinched the second Test in Pune, handing India a historic series defeat.
The series not only marked India’s first home defeat to New Zealand in the Test format, but it also saw the end of several impressive streaks.
Here is a look at five unfortunate records India set during the second Test loss against New Zealand.
5 unwanted records India set during loss in 2nd IND vs NZ Test 2024
#5 Losing a home Test series for the first time since 2012
India’s proud record of an undefeated home series streak, lasting 12 years, came to an end with the series loss to New Zealand. The last time India lost a Test series at home was in 2012 when England, captained by Alastair Cook, won the series 2-1 after bouncing back from a defeat in the first match.
In 2024, under the captain-coach combination of Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, India couldn’t prevent a similar turn of events, marking the end of their home dominance that lasted for over a decade.
#4 First-ever home series loss to New Zealand
The defeat also marked India’s first home Test series loss against New Zealand. Despite India’s longstanding superiority on home soil, New Zealand managed to claim the series by winning both the Bengaluru and Pune Tests.
The defeat in the Pune Test sealed an unwanted record for India, as they had never before lost a home series to the Kiwis in the game’s longest format.
#3 Losing more than two home Tests in a calendar year
India’s consistency at home meant that losing even one or two home Tests in a year was uncommon, but in 2024, India lost three home Tests. Before their series defeat to New Zealand, they had already suffered a loss to England earlier in the year, bringing their tally to three Test losses at home in 2024.
To find a similar situation, one would have to go all the way back to 1969, when India lost four home Tests in a single calendar year.
#2 Conceding over 100-run leads in consecutive home Tests
India’s batting collapse in Pune saw them bowled out for just 156 in their first innings, giving New Zealand a 103-run lead after the visitors scored 259 on Day 1. This marked the second consecutive instance in this series where India conceded a lead of over 100 runs at home, a rare occurrence in Indian Test history.
In the first Test in Bengaluru, India was skittled out for an all-time low of 46 runs in their first innings, allowing New Zealand to build a massive 356-run lead.
The last time India conceded 100-plus leads in back-to-back home Tests was in 2001 against Australia, with leads of 173 runs at Wankhede and 274 at Eden Gardens.
#1 Ending an 18-series winning streak at home
From 2013 to 2024, India maintained an unbroken streak of 18 consecutive Test series wins at home, a record matched by very few teams in history. This series loss to New Zealand marked the end of that winning streak, one that spanned well over a decade.
Despite efforts to reclaim momentum, the 2-0 series result handed to them by New Zealand officially ended this remarkable chapter in India’s home Test history.