When was the last time India lost back-to-back Tests at home?
India have been one of the strongest Test teams at home in the last decade. They are yet to lose consecutive Tests since 2012, spanning 18 Test series. The Men in Blue, however, have failed to showcase their dominance against New Zealand in the ongoing home Test series.
The Rohit Sharma-led side lost the opening Test by eight wickets to go 0-1 behind in the three-match series. The match witnessed the hosts bundled out for their lowest innings total (46 all out) in the first essay. They bounced back to score 462 in the second essay but still lost the game. It was the Kiwis' first Test win in India since 1988, with the previous win coming under John Wright's captaincy in Mumbai. The visitors are now aiming for their first-ever series win in India.
In the second Test, the Tom Latham-led side have put themselves in a strong position to win this match as well. After scoring 259 in the first essay, they bundled out India for 156 to gain a 103-run first-innings lead.
At the time of writing, the Kiwis were 114/3 in the second innings, leading by 217 in the second innings.
Notably, India were skittled out for 107 in the fourth innings against Australia at the same venue in 2017, losing the game by 333 runs.
India lost their last consecutive Tests at home against England in 2012
India lost their last consecutive Tests at home against England under MS Dhoni’s captaincy in 2012. The Alastair Cook-led side beat the Men in Blue by 10 wickets in the second Test at Wankhede in Mumbai to level the series 1-1 after India won the opening game by nine wickets.
The visitors then won the third Test by seven wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match Test series. The fourth and final game was drawn, with the series ending in favor of the English team.
A series loss against the Kiwis in the ongoing series could be a wake-up call for the Men in Blue ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The five-match Test series will kick off in Perth on November 22. India are eyeing a hat-trick of wins Down Under.