The Indian cricket team faced a disappointing defeat in the Pune Test, marking their first Test series loss at home in 12 years. In the aftermath, captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the team’s batting shortcomings in the first innings as a critical factor behind their inability to turn around the match on a difficult pitch. With the opposition creating a deficit of over 100 runs, India found the challenge insurmountable, leading to concerns over a drop in batting standards, especially against spin.
Rohit Sharma, known for his candid assessments, did not rely on exaggerations or scapegoating but highlighted the necessity for his team to explore various methods to counter spin—a problem the opposition demonstrated they could solve. Speaking after the 113-run defeat, he stated, “We didn’t bat well in the first innings. We managed to put only 150 [156] runs on the board, and the players understand that they failed to cope with the pressure and the challenge presented by the pitch.”
Despite the tricky conditions, Sharma emphasized that the pitch itself was not unfavorable for batting. “The pitch was not bad at all. We just didn’t play well enough to get closer to their first innings total. Being 100 [103] runs behind, we knew the difficulty that lay ahead. The pitch began to behave differently as the game progressed,” Sharma elaborated.
In pursuit of a daunting target of 350 runs, India initially showed promise with a fruitful partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. However, the familiar collapse followed, as wickets tumbled quickly, pushing the game out of their grasp. Sharma expressed regret over the team’s inability to handle the pressure effectively.
Reflecting on how New Zealand’s batsmen managed to counter India’s spinners, Rohit pointed out that his team needed to adopt diverse scoring techniques to diminish the opposition’s grip. The discussion around this subject gained traction earlier in the year after England’s Ollie Pope successfully employed sweeps and reverse sweeps against India. Although India adapted well in subsequent encounters with England, they struggled to find similar responses on the spin-friendly Pune pitch.
“You have to look to get runs and put the bowlers under pressure,” Rohit explained. “Adopting different strategies and applying pressure can make the bowlers falter, as seen with New Zealand’s approach.
. They challenged our bowlers, which pushed them to make mistakes. That’s exactly what worked for them.”
The solution, according to Sharma, lies in varied stroke-making, including paddles, sweeps, and reverse sweeps. These strokes can force field changes and create opportunities for playing more straightforward shots. Sharma highlighted New Zealand’s exemplary execution, which forced India to adjust their fielders and allowed the visiting batsmen to find gaps and rack up runs.
For India, consistent success on spin-assisting pitches requires adaptability. “When you play on such pitches, where the odd ball behaves unpredictably, you must explore different playing options,” Sharma added. “Though we’ve discussed these methods, the onus remains on the individual player to judge the right approach against specific opposition bowlers during the game.”
On the bowling front, Rohit defended premier spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who couldn’t replicate their usual dominance. He praised Santner’s tactics, noting his effective use of speeds and trajectories while keeping the stumps in play, which brought him a match haul of 13 wickets. “There’s too much expectation from these two. It’s unfair to expect them to always take wickets and win matches for us,” Sharma insisted.
Sharma stressed the importance of the team’s collective responsibility, both in batting and bowling units. “It’s up to the entire team to secure Test wins, not just Ashwin and Jadeja. It’s about sharing the burden.”
In the face of rising speculations about a pivotal moment in India’s Test cricket evolution, Sharma emphasized patience and stability, advising against drastic changes following this rare series setback. “One series loss isn’t a reason to question the system that has brought much success. We’ve been playing exceptional cricket over the years,” Rohit stated, urging introspection without overreaction.
The Indian skipper urged fans and critics to view this setback within the broader context of India’s successful home record, vowing renewed efforts to adjust their playing style and rise to forthcoming challenges.