India captain Rohit Sharma offered a measured assessment after his side's stunning three-day loss to New Zealand in Pune, marking India's first home Test series defeat since 2012. Rohit acknowledged the team’s batting failures, particularly in the first innings, but cautioned against overreacting to the setback.
"The pitch wasn’t bad," Rohit said. "We didn’t bat well enough in the first innings, managing only 156. The batters failed to adapt to the challenge, and with a deficit of 103 runs, we knew the task ahead would be tough."
India’s second innings saw promise with a solid partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, but a flurry of wickets dashed hopes of chasing 350. "We lost wickets quickly, and the game slipped away," Rohit admitted.
For a generation of fans, this was the first time witnessing a home Test series loss. Before this, India had won 18 consecutive series at home, a streak that began after their 2012 defeat to England. Despite the disappointment, Rohit emphasized the team's achievements and urged against hasty judgments.
"Our batters have consistently performed on challenging pitches in India," he said. "This series, it didn’t work out in a few innings. These are the same players who’ve won us matches and series over the years. There’s no reason to doubt their abilities. We need to trust our plans, even if they don’t always work."
The loss complicates India’s path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. To secure a top-two spot, India must win the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai and then beat Australia 3-2 in Australia. However, Rohit refused to dwell on WTC scenarios, focusing instead on the immediate disappointment.
"I’m hurting because we lost the series," Rohit said. "This was a collective failure of both batters and bowlers. When you win, it’s a team effort, and the same applies when you lose. We’ll look at how we can approach similar situations better as a unit."
Rohit’s comments reflect a determination to learn from the defeat without undermining the team’s long-standing success at home.
Updated on 26th Oct, 2024 by MyFortune11