"One of New Zealand cricket's greatest series wins" - Tom Latham on IND vs NZ 2024 rubber
New Zealand Test captain Tom Latham termed his side's historic 3-0 whitewash away against India as one of the country's "greatest series wins". He said his team will celebrate the victory over the next few days, even as the weight of their achievement settles in slowly.
New Zealand, without their best batter Kane Williamson for the entire series, inflicted the first-ever home whitewash on India in a rubber with three or more Tests. Before this, the Kiwis hadn't won a Test in India since 1988.
"It's been a massive achievement, after the first (Test) it was obviously pretty special; the second one to win a series was even more special," Latham said in the post-series press conference (via India Today).
"We spoke about coming here and trying to adapt as much as we can and to be in this position (of winning) 3-0, it's certainly a series that I'll never forget. We'll obviously celebrate as a group together over tonight and the next couple of days before we head home. It's certainly been an amazing series to be a part of... It will sink in a little bit more when we get home and once the dust settles a little bit.
"It's obviously a great moment for New Zealand cricket, probably one of New Zealand cricket's greatest series wins," he added.
Latham's men first Test win in Bengaluru was set up by the pacers, who bowled India out for 46 in the first innings after losing the toss. For the next two games, where the visitors comprehensively outshone the Indians, Latham admitted that winning the toss and getting the chance to set the total helped their chances massively.
Didn't believe the game was over when Rishabh was still there: Tom Latham
New Zealand always looked like the better team but India managed to take the final Test and the possibility of avoiding a whitewash to 50-odd runs on Day 3. Despite another top-order collapse, Rishabh Pant stood tall with a logic-defying 64 (57) and got out only when an on-field call of not-out for a catch against him was overturned.
"With Rishabh still there, I certainly didn't believe that the game was over," Latham said. "They (India) have match winners throughout their side and they've been successful playing the way that they've been playing for a long period of time."
India now need to win four of the five Tests against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to have a chance at qualifying for the World Test Championship final without relying too much on other teams' results.