New Zealand claimed their first Test victory on Indian soil in 36 years, defeating India by eight wickets on the final day of the opening match in Bengaluru. Under the leadership of Tom Latham, the Kiwis outclassed India in all aspects of the game, dismissing the hosts for a mere 46 runs in their first innings and achieving a historic win—New Zealand's first in India since 1988.

Chasing a target of 107 on the last day, New Zealand overcame a strong effort from Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up two wickets for 29 runs in 8 overs. Will Young, who remained unbeaten on 48, and Rachin Ravindra, contributing 39 not out, anchored a solid third-wicket partnership. Together, they added 75 runs to guide New Zealand to the target in just 27.4 overs.

This victory marked a significant milestone for New Zealand, as their last Test win in India came in 1988, long before most of the current squad was born. Spinner Ajaz Patel, a key player in the team's recent success, was just a month old at the time, with the rest of his teammates yet to be born.

New Zealand has now had only three captains to lead their side to Test wins in India. Graham Dowling first achieved this rare feat in 1969 with a victory in Nagpur. John Wright followed suit nearly two decades later, securing a memorable triumph in Mumbai in 1988. Tom Latham has now joined this elite list, guiding his team to a historic win in Bengaluru in 2024.

New Zealand Captains to Win a Test in India:

• Graham Dowling (1969)
• John Wright (1988)
• Tom Latham (2024)

India, known for their dominance at home, were thoroughly outplayed in this match. Despite their attempts to bounce back, India couldn't recover from their disastrous first-innings total of 46, a score that ultimately proved to be the turning point.

For New Zealand, this was only their third Test victory in India over 69 years of touring, making the achievement even more special. Their previous win on Indian soil was in 1988, when the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee led the team to victory with a 10-wicket haul at the Wankhede Stadium. Since then, India has been a fortress for visiting teams, and breaking that stronghold adds to the significance of this victory.

India had set a modest target of 107, but Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian bowlers put up a strong fight early on. Bumrah, in particular, bowled with precision and troubled New Zealand’s top order. Devon Conway struggled to get going and was eventually dismissed after a slow start. However, Will Young's confident and aggressive approach turned the tide in New Zealand's favor, as he and Rachin Ravindra guided the team through to victory.

With this momentum, New Zealand now heads into the second Test in Pune, set to begin on October 24.