India were once again bowled out at home by New Zealand for a rare series defeat

:India’s proud streak of not losing a home Test series since 2012 came to an abrupt end on Saturday in a humiliating 2-0 loss to New Zealand, which exposed the cracks in the vaunted hosts’ line-up, tormented by pace and then back.

Before India embark on a grueling five-match tour of Australia next month, the team’s form will be under the microscope after they were bowled out for 245 in Pune in a 113-run defeat.

While spinner Mitchell Santner took six wickets in a match-making 13 that led to the demise of the turning pitch, the hosts were smashed by the New Zealand bowlers in dreary conditions in the series opener in Bengaluru.

“It’s a really special feeling. I am very proud to be in this position,” said new permanent captain Tom Latham, who replaced Tim Southee after the 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka.

“It’s not just me, it’s teamwork… I’m excited for the guys. It’s really special.”

India remain top of the Test World Cup standings despite two defeats, but will be less certain of a place in next year’s finals after their first series loss on home soil since the 2012 loss to England.

Their run of 18 home series wins since that 2-1 win was snapped by an inspired Black Caps who were clearly the better team and will be aiming for a clean sweep heading into the final in Mumbai from Friday.

Man of the match Santner finished with 6-104 to give the Black Caps their first series win in India, a feat they achieved without their best batsman Kane Williamson due to a groin problem.

With spin dominating the Maharashtra State Cricket Association Stadium, Ajaz Patel took the last two wickets, including Ravindra Jadeja for 42, to seal victory.

New Zealand became only the fourth team to win a Test series in India since 1990, after South Africa, Australia and England.

“When you come here, you always want to compete,” Latham added. “Santner in the first innings was fantastic. To get the break and play the way he did, the credit has to go to him.”

SPIN STORM

India’s most successful chase at home was the 387-4 they achieved against England in Chennai in 2008, but any hopes of a similar effort were dashed in a whirlwind storm.

They got off to a flying start with Yashaswi Jaiswal hitting some impressive boundaries, but his dismissal on Santner’s 77 and Rishabh Pant’s shock run after lunch left India in deep trouble at 127-4.

Santner, who had earlier dismissed Rohit Sharma for eight and Shubman Gill for 23, continued to trouble India and captured the trump card of Virat Kohli lbw for 17.

Sarfaraz Khan failed to replicate his batting heroics from the first match, perishing for nine after missing a low delivery from Santner to hand the bowler five wickets back-to-back.

Shoulders did drop when Washington Sundar fell for 21 off Glenn Phillips and Santner caught Ravichandran Ashwin for 18 as India looked down.

“It’s disappointing,” said Rohit, who raised eyebrows over his decisions, including switching to bat first on a damp pitch in a gloomy Bengaluru.

“It’s not what we expected, but you have to give credit to New Zealand. They played better than us. We weren’t able to take advantage of certain moments in the game, we weren’t able to respond to those challenges and stay here with this result.”

Rohit, who like Kohli had just one fifty in his last eight innings, urged the Indian batsmen to step up.

“I don’t think we hit well enough. You need to take 20 wickets to win Tests, but the batsmen also need to bowl,” he said.

New Zealand were dismissed for 255 in their second innings after Latham’s 86 and useful contributions down the order put them in a strong position.

Resuming on 198-5, New Zealand were going well in the morning until Jadeja bowled Tom Blundell for 41 for his first wicket of the match.

Santner, who took 7-53 on Friday to give the Black Caps the lead, looked to target Jadeja but misread the left-arm looping delivery and was caught in the deep for four.

Southee followed him back into the dugout, pushing Ashwin away from Rohit, who showed quick reflexes to take a superb catch.

Washington took a fine catch in the deep when Ajaz fell to Jadeja and William O’Rourke broke away for a duck, leaving Phillips stranded for 48.