In the wake of India’s first home Test series defeat in 12 years, captain Rohit Sharma candidly addressed the issues that led to India’s lackluster performance against New Zealand in Pune. India was handed a 113-run defeat on a tricky surface, which, according to Sharma, was not unplayable but required more nuanced batting adjustments that the team failed to make.
Sharma, steering clear of blame-games, emphasized the necessity for his team to explore varied strategies to combat spin bowling effectively. He pointed out the successful implementation of such tactics by the visiting side, New Zealand, who managed to put Indian bowlers under pressure consistently. “We didn’t bat well in the first innings. We got only 150 [156] and the batters do understand that they failed to respond to that pressure, that challenge of playing on whatever pitch,” Sharma remarked post-defeat.
Analyzing the course of the match, Rohit highlighted how the first-innings deficit proved detrimental. Despite a promising partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, the Indian batting lineup crumbled under pressure after these two wickets fell in quick succession. Sharma acknowledged the changes in pitch behavior as the game progressed but remained firm in the belief that India’s approach with the bat needed refinement. “And then, yeah, 350 to get, we knew that the mindset that we had was wanting to get those runs,” he noted, reflecting on the challenge at hand.
Rohit underlined how New Zealand successfully maneuvered Indian field settings by adopting a wide array of strokes, thereby disrupting the opposition’s strategy. The visiting batters employed sweeps, reverse sweeps, and paddles to manipulate the field and create scoring opportunities—an area where Indian batsmen fell short. “You have to look to get runs also and that’s how you try and put the bowlers under pressure,” Rohit advised, while noting how New Zealand effectively executed this game plan.
Challenging pitches like Pune’s demand such tactical adaptability, especially when confronted with spin attacks capable of taking advantage of any indecision or hesitation. India’s failure to apply these strategies on a pitch favorable to spin fueled conversations around a possible decline in their ability to handle spin—a daunting prospect given India’s historical dominance.
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Amidst discussions about the ongoing changes within India’s Test team, Sharma took a moment to defend his key spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who faced criticism for being outperformed by Mitchell Santner’s precise spin bowling. Santner, masterfully adjusting his speeds and trajectories, took a commendable 13 wickets in the match. “There is too much expectation on those two guys. Every game they play, they are expected to take wickets, they are expected to run through the team,” Rohit contended, reinforcing the need for a collective effort.
While acknowledging they didn’t play to their potential in this series, Sharma sought to remind critics of Ashwin and Jadeja’s significant contributions to India’s previous home successes. He stressed the importance of shared responsibility within the team to secure Test wins, adding that no single player should bear the burden alone. It’s crucial, Sharma reiterated, for other bowlers to rise to the occasion when needed.
Rohit also urged for broader emphasis on team stability and not to overreact to a single series loss, stressing that changing the philosophy of a team based on one setback would be hasty. “We are not able to bat properly. So, it is allowed once in 12 years,” Rohit said, reminding fans of India’s solid cricketing performances over the years which have established lofty expectations.
This defeat, Rohit stated, presents an opportunity for India to fine-tune their existing strategies and potentially adapt new attacking methods against challenging spin conditions. He emphasized that simply a minor tweak in playing style, rather than an overhaul, is needed. He encouraged both the team and its followers to maintain faith in the system that has led India to substantial successes before. The Indian captain’s message was one focused on the longer journey ahead, valuing stability while remaining open to essential adaptations.