Virat Kohli's India suffer worst defeat in terms of wickets as New Zealand go 1-0 up in Test series

Update: 2020-02-24 10:51 IST

New Zealand thrashed India by 10 wickets in the first Test in Wellington on Monday. It was India's 11th Test loss under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, while the win was special for New Zealand as it was their 100th win in a Test.

It was also Kohli-led India's worst defeat in terms of wickets because all previous 10 losses have been in terms of either runs and/or innings.

When India resumed play on Day Four, they had Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari at the crease. While the fans would have expected some sort of fightback from the tourists, the Kiwis needed only 79 minutes to wrap up India's innings.

In just third over of the day, Rahane – who was India's top-scorer in the first innings – fell for Trent Boult's trap as he nicked back one to BJ Watling. In the very next over, Vihari fell for 15 runs. Tim Southee used a screamer out-swinger to bamboozle the Indian batter, who in reality was expecting an in-swinger. From there on, India were left with only one batsman – Rishabh Pant, who had only tail-enders for company.

Pant and Ishant Sharma took India into a lead. Ishant, in fact, was dropped twice in a span of 10 balls by Tom Latham and Southee respectively. It was Colin de Grandhomme who finally dismissed Ishant, who contributed 12 off 21 balls.

India added another three more runs before they got bundled out for 191. That meant, New Zealand's target was mere nine runs. The hosts ended the match in 1.4 overs and earned crucial points in the ongoing, while the Indians suffered their first loss in the newest ICC tournament.

Southee, who bagged his career's 10th five-wicket haul and overall picked nine wickets in the first Test, was named the Player of the Match. It was a fitting result for senior batsman Ross Taylor too, who was playing his 100th Test. That also made him the first-ever cricketer to play 100 games in each of the three formats.

The second Test will begin on Feb. 29 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. 

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