India shell-shocked after what happened in Pune, Bengaluru Tests: Tom Blundell

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell reckons the Indian cricket team must be feeling "shell-shocked" after surprising defeats in the first two Test matches held in Bengaluru and Pune.

In Short

• Tom Blundell says India are 'shell-shocked' by twin defeats
• New Zealand to host England next, eyes World Test Championship
• India's 12-year unbeaten home streak ended in Test series

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell reckons the Indian cricket team must be feeling "shell-shocked" after surprising defeats in the first two Test matches held in Bengaluru and Pune. Blundell's remarks came after New Zealand secured a historic 2-0 lead, marking their first-ever Test series victory in India and ending a 12-year unbeaten home streak for the Indian side. With an eight-wicket win in Bengaluru followed by a 113-run triumph in Pune, New Zealand clinched an unassailable lead, a feat that caught many off guard.

As the teams prepare for the third and final Test at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium starting Friday, the visiting side is now eyeing a remarkable 3-0 series sweep. "They're a little bit shell-shocked," Blundell said, in an interview with SEN Radio. "When we first came over, I think they had a slogan on TV saying five-nil for their home summer, or something along those lines. I'm pretty sure they wrote us off after Sri Lanka," he added, referring to New Zealand's recent 2-0 series loss on the subcontinent. Despite that setback, the Kiwis entered the series with renewed focus and a belief in their ability to topple one of the world's top-ranked sides on their home turf.

India, who had dominated home series for over a decade, were considered heavy favorites. However, the Tom Latham-led Black Caps have proved resilient, displaying aggressive yet disciplined cricket to outplay India. Blundell emphasized the scale of New Zealand's achievement, explaining that the results have boosted morale among the players.

"What we've achieved here is pretty immense; it's probably one of the biggest highlights of my career. We're excited. We've got the possibility of beating them 3-0. But regardless of that, we're pretty chuffed," Blundell added.

Following the conclusion of the India series, New Zealand will return home to host England for a three-Test series. The team is eager to carry this momentum forward, with Blundell noting that the World Test Championship is also a source of motivation. "You've got the World Test Championship still on the line, that's something that motivates us as well," Blundell added.