The Indian women's cricket team is all set to go on a cricket tour to New Zealand in February 2022. India Women's tour of New Zealand is a white ball tour and will consist of 5 ODI matches a solitary T20I match. The teams will be meeting ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup 2022. The women's World Cup was postponed to March-April 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The New Zealand cricket confirmed India's tour of New Zealand through an official release and also announced their home fixtures. The one-off T20I match will take place on 9th February 2022 and the series of the 5 ODI matches will begin from 11th February to 24th February.

India Women's Tour of New Zealand: Full schedule and fixture:

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Meanwhile, the Kiwi men's team will play against South Africa in 2 test matches during February and March 2022. Interestingly, they have never won against South Africa in a Test series either home or away. Cello Basin Reserve and Hagley Oval will host the first and second matches of the series respectively.

The Kiwis will also be in India for 3 ODIs and 2 Tests, which will begin on 17 November and continue to 7 December. 

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Bengal defeated Himachal Pradesh by 21 runs in the second semi-finals of the Senior Women's T20 Trophy 2024 on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Bengal all-rounder Mita Paul was adjudged player of the match for her 1 wicket and 29 runs with the bat.

Batting first, Bengal struggled early, losing Dhara Gujjar on duck in the first over. But, Richa Ghosh, the Indian wicket-keeper batter promoted as the opener, made sure she built a partnership with vice-captain Tanushree Sarkar for the second wicket.

Richa departed after adding 31 from 28 balls but Tanushree battled in the middle to build another partnership for Bengal, this time with Mita Paul. Tanushree, who made her return to the Bengal team after representing Railways last few years, perished after scoring a run-a-ball 36.

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Mita Paul tried to take the inning deep but lost her wicket after scoring 30-ball 29. But, it was youngster Sasthi Mondal, whose 11 from 5 balls gave Bengal the finish they were looking for. Bengal finished their first inning on 134/6, giving Himachal a tough task to chase down the total under the lights at Wankhede. 

With a batting lineup consisting of international players like captain Sushma Verma and Harleen Deol, Himachal looked like the team which can chase down Bengal's total. However, Titas Sadhu struck early for Bengal as she removed Sushma Verma in the fourth over. Off-spinner Sushmita Ganguly then clean bowled Nikita Chauhan, to hand Bengal the momentum. 

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Though Himachal were trying to build a partnership and take the game deep, Bengal captain Saika Ishaque dismissed Sonal Thakur and Monika Devi in the same over to give Bengal the advantage. Despite a valiant effort from S M Singh (32 from 22 balls), Himachal fell short of the total by 21 runs. Saika Ishaque and Titas Sadhu took two wickets each for Bengal.

In the other semi-final, Mumbai defeated Uttarakhand by 31 runs to enter the final. Bengal and Mumbai will face each other in the final on 12th November at Wankhede Stadium from 4.30 pm IST.

Is it the end of Rohit-Kohli? How can India qualify for the WTC final? Who else whitewashed India at home? Here are all the answers you need as Tom Latham's New Zealand defeated India by 3-0 in the recently concluded series. 

First of all, here are all the records which were made and shattered in the India vs New Zealand series. 

• This is the first time New Zealand won a test series in India.
• This is the first time since 2000 that India have been whitewashed in a home test series.
• New Zealand have become the fourth country to whitewash India in a three or more-match home test series alongside Australia, England and West Indies.
• This was the fourth time India were unable to chase down a total below 200 in a test match.

When was the last time India were whitewashed in a home test series?

South Africa were the last team who were able to whitewash India in a home test series in 200. At that time, Sachin Tendulkar was the captain of the team and India were going through a tough time with the match-fixing scandal around Mohhamed Azharuddin and a few other cricketers. 

South Africa defeated India in the first test in Mumbai and then continued their domination in Chennai in the second test as well.

Is it the end of the road for Rohit-Kohli?

With the form both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shown in the India vs New Zealand test series, it is very likely that both the Indian batters have played their last test series at home. India will play their next home test series in October next year and with the backup players performing, it would be hard for them to keep their place in the team.

Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been waiting for a long time and it is time now that the team management grooms these top-order batters for test cricket. 

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How can India qualify for the WTC Final?

As per the current WTC points table, six teams still can qualify for the World Test Championship Final in 2025. India will have to beat Australia by 4-0 or 5-0 to be able to qualify for the final. If they lose any test in Australia, teams like Sri Lanka, South Africa or New Zealand will get the upper hand in qualifying for the final alongside Australia.

The Indian Men's Cricket Team have already lost their series to New Zealand after losing the first two tests. With that, India's home test series wins ended. However, India still tops the list with 18 home series wins.

The 18th win came against Bangladesh after a 2-0 whitewash against them.

Here's the list of the top five teams with the most consecutive Test series wins at home

India leads the chart with 18 series wins, followed by Australia twice in the list, having 10 wins each time. 

New Zealand | 8

New Zealand, standing 5th in the table, has 8 home series wins to their name. Starting from December 2017 to January 2021. The team led by Kane Williamson had a perfect combination with the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Ross Taylor, perfectly complementing the spin-friendly pitches, allowing the team to capitalize on the home advantage.

West Indies | 8

Once a terror in World Cricket, the time span of West Indian dominance in test cricket clearly defines the legacy of the team.

The Clive Lloyd-led team, having shoulders of greats like Viv Richards and bowling legend Malcolm Marshall, had its winning streak of 8 series at home from March 1976 to February 1986.

Australia | 10 each

Another ruling team in World Cricket that successfully carried forward their once-created legacy is Australia. Australia is in the chart twice, having 10 consecutive home series wins.

The first phase started from October 1994 to November 2000. A little gap in between, and then the winning streak continued from July 2004 to November 2008.

India | 18

After the Kanpur test win against Bangladesh, for the first time after 92 years of Test cricket history, India had more test wins than losses.

Not only that, India's series winning streak at home increased to 18, making it an undisputed contender amongst the world giants.

New Zealand so far has received only three ICC trophies, including its recent triumph in the 2024 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

Funnily, the first win for New Zealand was in the previous generations of fans, a generation that saw the two gorgeous captains Stephen Fleming and Saurav Ganguly.

The second win came in the next generation when the Virat Kohli-dominated Indian test side fell short to the representative of gentleness and calmness, Kane Williamson.

Here are all the three triumphs of New Zealand in the ICC tournaments.

2000: The Champions Trophy

Earlier known as the ICC Knockout Trophy, the Champions Trophy of 2000 was the first-ever ICC tournament that the Kiwis won.

The tournament was hosted in Kenya.

In the quarterfinals, New Zealand defeated Zimbabwe by 64 runs, advancing towards the seminal where they defeated Pakistan by 4 wickets. 

Coming to bat, Pakistan posted a huge total of 252, based on Saeed Anwar's 104 runs. While chasing, even though the Black Caps trembled a bit, they managed in the middle with the likes of Roger Twose (87), Nathan Astle (49), and Craig McMillan (51*).

In the final, they met the Indians. The Men in Blue, who were enjoying an undefeated streak in the tournament, fell short of winning the final despite Ganguly's 117-run innings.

Chris Cairns' unbeaten 102 led New Zealand to 265/6, winning by four wickets and securing their maiden ICC trophy.

2021: World Test Championship

The second big ICC tournament that New Zealand won was the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, held in the Oval.

The rain-affected test match saw the Kiwis restricting the Indians to 217 in the first innings. Kyle Jamieson had his standout performance for New Zealand with his bowling figure looking 5/31.

New Zealand took a 32-run lead. However, in the second inning, India's batting crumbled for 170, posting a minimal 139 runs chase for New Zealand.

New Zealand achieved the target, losing 2 wickets, becoming the first ever test champion for the WTC.

2024: ICC T20 Women's World Cup

New Zealand's third ICC title came after they claimed their first Women's T20 World Cup title by beating South Africa by 32 runs in the 2024 final.

After posting 158/5, led by Amelia Kerr's 43 and Brooke Halliday's 38, New Zealand restricted South Africa to 126/9 in 20 overs. Kerr also shone with the ball, taking 3/24.

Despite Laura Wolvaardt's strong start for South Africa (33 off 27), their middle order faltered under pressure. This victory marked a remarkable turnaround for New Zealand, who entered the tournament after a 10-match losing streak.

List of ICC Trophies won by New Zealand

The second test against New Zealand had been dominated by one name: Mitchell Santner. With the completion of New Zealand's second inning, Mitchell Santner makes history becoming the first Kiwi to grab fifers in both innings against India. 

In the first inning, he scalped seven wickets, giving away 53 runs. In the second innings so far, he has taken 5 wickets, conceding 78* runs.

Earlier, it was the veteran Daniel Vettori from New Zealand who had a similar feat to his name. In 2004, against Bangladesh, at Chattogram he registered figures of 6/70 and 6/100.

The last spinner to do in a Test against India was Australia's Steve O'Keefe (6/35 & 6/35) at the same venue in 2017.

Mitchell Santer overtook Ajaz Patel with career-best record in test cricket

Earlier Mitchell Santner has registered his career-best record in test cricket— his maiden five-wicket haul, which counts a glamorous 7/53 against India, in the second test match at MCA.

With a seven-wicket haul, Mitchell Santner stands right behind Ajaz Patel, a bowler from New Zealand with the second-best bowling figure against India.

Also, he became the second Kiwi to have a five-wicket haul against New Zealand.

The 32-year-old cricketer was not present in the first test at Chinnaswamy. He got his name in the playing XI as a replacement for Matt Henry.

He not only justified his position but also carried on his red-hot form in the second inning. In case he grabs three more wickets, he will register the best bowling figure for a Kiiwi against India.

NZ spinners with two five-fers in a Test

• Daniel Vettori 5/62 & 7/87 vs Aus Auckland 2000
• Daniel Vettori 6/70 & 6/100 vs Ban Chattogram 2004
• Mitchell Santner 7/53 & 5/62* vs Ind Pune 2024