Black Caps crushed by India in final Test

Ravichandran Ashwin engineered another spectacular batting collapse to help India crush New Zealand by 321 runs in the third test and complete a 3-0 series sweep on Tuesday.

Ashwin, who claimed 6-81 in the first innings, resumed his role as New Zealand's wrecker-in-chief, claiming 7-59 as the tourists, chasing 475 for an improbable win, were dismissed for 153 to lose inside four days.

After Umesh Yadav dismissed Tom Latham to earn an early breakthrough, Ashwin spun a web around the batsmen as New Zealand lost nine wickets in the final session.

Ashwin dismissed captain Kane Williamson (27) for the second time in the match, ended Ross Taylor's breezy 32 and sent back Luke Ronchi to rip out the Kiwi top order before returning to blow away the tail.

India celebrate getting the ICC Mace. Photo: Twitter/Virat Kolhi

Fittingly, Ashwin caught Trent Boult off his own bowling to end New Zealand's innings with career-best bowling figures.

The spinner finished the series with 27 wickets and was the obvious choice for the man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards.

"Could not have asked for anything better," India captain Virat Kohli said at the presentation ceremony.

"The bowlers have responded beautifully in the series every time we've been under a bit of pressure. Every time the Kiwis had a partnership, someone put his hands up and brought those breakthroughs for us."

Earlier, Gautam Gambhir struck 50 on his test return and Cheteshwar Pujara reached 101 not out as India declared their second innings on 216 for three around an hour before tea.

Resuming on 18-0, the hosts lost opener Murali Vijay cheaply but Gambhir, who had retired hurt with an injured shoulder on Monday, returned to score fluently.

Gambhir hit six boundaries before completing his 22nd test fifty off 54 balls but was dismissed when he drove off-spinner Jeetan Patel to Guptill at cover.

Patel removed Kohli (17) lbw for the second time in the match but Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) added 58 quick runs before India declared.

"It was important that we get a big total in the first innings but it was not to be," Williamson said.

"Credit to India, obviously they're the number one in the world now. A fantastic effort and well-deserved."

India's skipper Kohli was presented with the ICC Test Championship mace as India were officially crowned the world's number one side after their 3-0 thrashing of New Zealand.

India celebrate during their clean sweep. Photo: ICC/Facebook

Batting legend and ICC Hall of Famer Sunil Gavaskar presented Kohli with the mace on behalf of the International Cricket Council at Indore's Holkar Stadium.

Kohli was only the second India captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the 10th overall to receive the mace since its introduction in 2001.

The others are Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Smith (Australia), Andrew Strauss (England), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla (South Africa) and Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan).

India are now four points in the ratings above arch-rivals Pakistan, who enjoyed the top spot only briefly after Misbah received the mace last month in Lahore.

"I've got a few Man of the Match awards, so have the boys. This is much more special. The last time India got the mace, I was watching on TV," said a delighted Kohli.

"The key right now is maintaining our game. We're working really hard on the areas needing improvement and we've been able to correct the wrongs quickly and we'd like to continue that and give the people what they want to see."

India had replaced Australia at the top of the rankings after their series win against the West Indies in August, only to be leapfrogged by Pakistan later.

"The number-one ranking has changed hands three times in as many months, indicative of the current competitiveness of Test cricket," ICC chief executive Dave Richardson was quoted as saying in a release.

– With NZN & AFP