Unprecedented History: Team India Makes Rare Mark After 41 Years

In a disappointing turn of events, India's cricket team faced a crushing defeat by 113 runs against New Zealand in the second Test held in Pune. This loss has resulted in a series defeat with just one more match left to play.

Prior to the Pune loss, India was stunned by Tom Latham’s New Zealand in Bengaluru, trailing 2-0 in the series and marking their first home Test series defeat in 12 years, which also ended their world-record streak of 18 consecutive series wins.

This result marks the first time in 41 years that India has lost three home Tests in a calendar year. Prior to the two losses to New Zealand, Rohit Sharma’s side had lost the opening Test of a five-match series against England in Hyderabad by 28 runs but rebounded to secure a commanding 4-1 series win.

This marks only the second time in India’s 92-year Test history that they have lost three or more home Tests in a single year. The first instance was in 1969, when they faced four home defeats: one against New Zealand in Nagpur and three against Australia in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.

The second instance of India losing three home Tests in a calendar year occurred in 1983, shortly after their World Cup victory, when they suffered a 3-0 series defeat to the West Indies. The visitors clinched wins in Kanpur, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata.

India has lost two Test matches at home in a single calendar year only 15 times (1952, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1983, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2012). Over the course of 293 home Test matches, India has won 120 games, lost 57, drawn 115, and tied one.