India needed only 44.5 overs to dismantle New Zealand for 153 in the second innings, thereby winning the third Test in Indore by 321 runs. The win meant that India recorded its first series whitewash under Virat Kohli, winning all three matches. Ravichandran Ashwin was the tormentor-in-chief again for the visitors, as he picked up seven wickets in the innings, making it 13 for the match and 27 for the series.
New Zealand were never in the contest after being set 475 to win the match. And the small hopes of playing out a draw were washed away as Ashwin began his feast in the third session.
Like in the first innings when he took six wickets and had his hands on two more, Ashwin was impressive in his understanding of each batsmen's weaknesses. He seems to have specific plans for every batsman and he executed them brilliantly. The 30-year-old picked up his seventh Man of the Series award – the most by an Indian in Tests. He could add to that soon with three more Test series remaining in this season.
A lot was expected from this New Zealand team when they arrived on Indian shores and they have been rather underwhelming. Kane Williamson has been quite disappointing by his standards, scoring only 135 runs in four innings. It would be unfair on India to say that the pitch suited the hosts. All three tracks for this series were pretty sporting and neither were rank turners. The Black Caps were just not good enough to even challenge this Indian team, who deservedly took the world No. 1 ranking.
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