Bangalore: Virat Kohli and skipper MS Dhoni led from the front as they guided India to a comfortable five-wicket win over New Zealand in the second Test and complete series whitewash against New Zealand in Bangalore.
Kohli (51*) and Dhoni (48*) added an unbeaten 96 runs stand to take India to victory on the penultimate day of the match. India registered the massive innings and 115 runs win in the first Test played in Hyderabad which also was finished in four days.
Virat Kohli continued his dream run, smashing yet another half-century with a marvelous straight drive to ensure India's victory in the second Test.
New Zealand made an emphatic comeback in the final session picking up the wickets of Sachin, Pujara and Raina in quick succession to leave India in trouble at 166 for 5.
Cheteshwar Pujara (41) and Sachin Tendulkar (23) guided India to 147 for 2 before rain interrupted India's chase in the second Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Monday. India still need 114 runs to register a clean sweep with eight wickets in hand.
Earlier, the openers gave a rollicking start to India's chase before departing in quick succession as the hosts reached 88 for two at lunch aiming to overhaul a target of 261.
Virender Sehwag (38) and Gautam Gambhir (34) plundered the Kiwi attack to give a perfect start to India's chase with their entertaining stand of 77 in 11.5 overs.
While Sehwag was out bowled by Jeetan Patel, Gautam Gambhir was dismissed by Trent Boult.
Among the two openers, Gambhir looked more attacking and scored freely off Kiwi pacers, who had tormented the top order in India's first innings. Sehwag too chipped in with some lovely strokes to the fence.
The pair overcame the drought of not scripting a half century partnership in the last 11 innings when Gambhir exquisitely punched Doug Bracewell to deep extra cover fence for a boundary.
As soon as the Indian score raced to 77, Ross Taylor brought in off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who did not disappoint the captain.
Patel flummoxed the dangerous Sehwag 38, who struck seven fours and six, with a flighted ball which disturbed his off stump.
Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 248 runs setting India a target of 261 to win.
The New Zealand second innings folded after pacer Zaheer Khan claimed Jeetan Patel, who hammered two boundaries of the 16 runs scored today in a bid to get some vital runs on the board for Indian batsmen to chase.
Patel was caught behind by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a gutsy 22 runs off 27 balls.
Off-spinner R Ashwin was the star bowler for India as he led the attack by scalping five wickets for 69 runs. He was ably supported by Pragyan Ojha and Umesh Yadav, both claimed two wickets each.
Virat Kohli is the Man of the Match for century in first innings and fifty in 2nd innings. He said: "It was a tricky situation when I went out to bat and me and MS took it ten runs at a time. I needed to be more patient and it worked. There was more turn today, it was a great cricket wicket. I always love this crowd."
R Ashwin is the Man of the Series for 16 wickets in the series and three times he got five wickets in an inning. He said : "This pitch was a bit more challenging. I tried to alter the pace on the third day, it was a bit more docile. I enjoy only bounce, that's one of the important ingredients I require from a pitch. Ojha compliments me well."
Brief scores
New Zealand 365 (Taylor 113, van Wyk 71, Guptill 53, Ojha 5-99) and 248 (Ashwin 5-69)
India 353 (Kohli 103, Dhoni 62, Raina 55, South 7-64) and (Kohli 51*, Patel 3-68)
Result India won by five wickets
MOM Virat Kohli (India)
Man of the series R. Ashwin (India)