The jubilation of successful outings in Test cricket was notably absent as India faced a dramatic series downturn against New Zealand, leaving many pondering over the aftermath of an unexpected clean sweep on home soil. With the series setbacks beginning in Bengaluru and extending through to Mumbai, the Indian team found itself grappling with dire conditions, questionable strategies, and ultimately no reasonable explanations for the defeats that ensued.
The initial encounter in Bengaluru saw India attributing their failure to the challenging weather conditions and strategic missteps at the toss. However, as the competition progressed to Pune, it wasn’t just the elements that were cited as adversaries. Here, Indian batters found themselves unable to effectively counter New Zealand’s spin attack, particularly failing to displace Mitchell Santner. Post-match reflections pointed towards a missing tactical adaptation – the need for playing sweeps and reverse-sweeps – something the team confessed was not well incorporated to neutralize the bowlers.
By the time New Zealand triumphed in Mumbai, the Indian team was devoid of plausible excuses or solutions to counter the Kiwi dominance. It was the first occurrence in 130 years that India had been defeated 3-0 at home, a feat New Zealand achieved with remarkable efficiency. This defeat was not merely an anomaly; it represented a comprehensive New Zealand outplay, resulting in a somber acknowledgment of an Indian side that had seemingly surrendered without much contest.
One of the essential critiques emerged from their aggressive batting stance, particularly epitomized by the captain’s approach. In Kanpur, 2024 had been celebrated for quick scoring capabilities, yet, sticking to such a strategy amidst adversities throughout the series seemed to backfire. Captain Rohit Sharma faced scrutiny not merely for his ineffective shot selections but for an overall decline in form. With an average plummeting to 29.40, marking his lowest since assuming an opening role in 2019, Rohit’s performance contrasted sharply with his T20 successes, where his form had soared.
Rohit admitted to not having spent adequate time defending on the pitch and expressed a desire for introspection and game evolution.
. Yet, such evolution, or the exaggerated pursuit thereof since the Kanpur success, raises questions. Is this approach, reminiscent of England’s attacking style of Test cricket, suitable for India, especially on tricky wickets like those encountered during this series? New Zealand’s Will Young, who stressed patience and defense, presented an opposite perspective successful in such conditions.
The pitch conditions themselves stirred controversy. Rohit conveyed that India’s strategic choice of turning pitches, deemed advantageous initially, only led to counterproductive outcomes this time around. New Zealand’s spin trio – Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips – leveled the playing field with their stellar performances, overshadowing India’s mainstays like R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Additionally, India’s decision to favor spinners inadvertently increased the pacer workload concerns as the series advanced. Without their ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the final Test, the Indian side’s strategic gaps widened, contributing to mounting worries ahead of their Australian tour. Questions submerged the pace lineup hierarchy, considering Akash Deep’s and Mohammad Siraj’s roles and forms, creating an air of uncertainty.
Furthermore, the defeat casts a shadow not only over Rohit’s captaincy but also over Virat Kohli’s ongoing struggles. This setback marked an unwelcome chapter in their storied careers, starkly distinct from the triumphant image they presented upon winning an ICC title months prior. Challenges in consistently constructing match-winning performances and adapting to changing personal techniques exemplified Kohli’s current predicaments.
Rohit’s philosophical acceptance of career lows emphasized a learning curve, vowing to address team shortcomings identified throughout the series. The reflective conversation anticipated among the squad is expected to be as tough as the cricketing encounters they faced. As India transitions from this historic setback, revaluation of strategies and addressing performance lapses remain imperative steps to regaining their footing on the global stage.