Even the most pessimistic critics could not have predicted India losing three consecutive Tests against a visiting New Zealand team on home soil. Rohit Sharma’s squad, which previously seemed invincible, showed vulnerability just before the series began; having lost two Tests at home in the last two years—the same number they had conceded over the prior decade. However, what transpired was nothing short of extraordinary: a perfect amalgamation of fortune, tactical brilliance, and near-relentless determination saw New Zealand accomplishing what appeared almost unimaginable—defeating India three times in a row on their turf.
This monumental upset might indicate more than just a barren patch. It is reminiscent of the 2012/13 England series loss that led to a generational shift in the squad. India’s current campaign in the third World Test Championship (WTC) edition ended with a patchy record—six wins and four losses—and their shot at a third successive final remains tenuous.
After the shocking series conclusion, there’s a need to delve deeper into the nuances of India’s Test strategy to prepare for upcoming home matches.
**Do Result-Oriented Pitches Undermine India’s Strengths?**
With the advent of the WTC, teams are increasingly capitalizing on home games by crafting result-oriented pitches. Since the WTC’s inception, only about 12.6% of Tests have resulted in draws—with even lower numbers when weather-disrupted matches are excluded. This contrasts sharply with previous decades, underscoring the WTC’s impact on pitch preparation.
India initially adopted seam-friendly pitches in their first WTC cycle (2019-2021), particularly against South Africa and Bangladesh, with spinners playing secondary roles. However, the pandemic forced India to pivot to turning tracks during their home series against England in 2021—a necessity due to revised qualification criteria. Despite initial setbacks, spin-heavy pitches became India’s go-to for favorable results, albeit at the risk of exposing their own ageing batting lineup.
Following a narrow draw against New Zealand in Kanpur in 2021, India opted for a turner at the Wankhede, underscoring their fluctuating approach. Series losses to South Africa prompted similar strategies against Sri Lanka, showcasing a dependency on spin-friendly conditions to accrue vital WTC points.
The recent Australia series further illustrated India’s reliance on spin-conducive surfaces before switching tactics in Ahmedabad when only a draw was necessary to secure WTC final qualification. The trend continued during New Zealand’s tour, with sharp turners offered at Pune and Mumbai after rainy conditions in Bengaluru.
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India’s home defeats since 2021, bar the Bengaluru Test, are marked by opposing spin attacks outperforming local spinners. India’s pitch conditions have narrowed the performance gap, allowing less renowned visiting spin bowlers effectiveness. Interestingly, visiting spinners since 2021 have emulated the strike rates Indian spinners achieved during 2016-19.
Historically, India’s home series losses have been inflicted by iconic adversaries like Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Jason Gillespie, and Graeme Swann. In recent years, lesser-known figures like Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips have seized the opportunity to shine, highlighting a shift in Indian cricket’s home strategy vulnerability.
**Rethinking Batting Tactics**
Captain Rohit Sharma’s reflections on his disappointing run, contributing only 133 runs in ten innings, epitomize the batting shortcomings against New Zealand. India’s prior victory against Bangladesh was attributed to aggressive batting on rain-affected pitches, but similar tactics floundered against New Zealand’s spin-friendly tracks.
The notion of an inevitable “ball with your name on it” has led Indian batsmen to prioritize accumulating runs swiftly. However, this strategy backfired, with players like Sarfaraz Khan opting for aggression over defense. Khan’s approach only yielded limited success on less hazardous pitches.
Indian batsmen show potential to pressure opposing spinners more effectively, but the strategy seems inconsistent, without the comprehensive team backing seen in England under leadership like Stokes and McCullum. Despite calls for better utilization of sweep shots by the captain, results during the Wankhede Test painted a mixed picture.
**Fielding Tactics: A Support System for Spinners?**
Match dynamics on spinning tracks are significantly influenced by the toss, which benefits batting in the initial sessions. Tom Latham’s strategic toss decisions were instrumental, leading to formidable building innings that left India struggling to recover.
India’s response involved defensive fields, though these often played into New Zealand’s hands. The visitors skillfully maneuvered Indian spinners, rotating strike effectively, unlike Indian bowlers who captured momentum against England.
Compared to England’s boundary-focused strategy, New Zealand’s reliance on singles illuminated a different path Indian cricket strategy might explore before their next home stint.
In light of this unprecedented series defeat, Indian cricket finds itself at a crossroads, poised to rethink strategic nuances in preparing for future home challenges.