India’s Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns, but captain Rohit Sharma remains optimistic. Despite the disappointing defeat, Sharma believes there is no need for panic.
India’s 12-year home Test series winning streak came to an end with New Zealand’s 113-run victory in the second Test. Mitchell Santner’s 13-wicket haul played a crucial role in the Kiwis’ triumph.
Sharma acknowledged the team’s recent struggles but emphasized the need to stay calm and focus on improvement. “We’ve had a great run for 12 years, and we’ve done great things during this period,” he said. “We will think about what we didn’t do well and what we can improve, but I don’t need to open a medical kit and start doing things differently.”
India’s defeat has impacted their World Test Championship (WTC) standings. They now lead Australia by a mere 0.32 percentage points. However, Sharma believes it’s premature to focus on the WTC.
“It’s too early to think of WTC,” he said. “I am hurting because we lost the game. I can’t think of what lies ahead and whether it affects our chances. I am hurting because we lost the series.”
Sharma highlighted the team’s collective responsibility for the defeat. “If you lose a Test, it is because the collective unit failed,” he said. “If you win, everyone deserves credit. If you lose, everyone needs to take the blame.”
Despite the setback, Sharma remains confident in the team’s abilities. “We have won 18 series in a row at home,” he said. “We have done a good job. In this series, we didn’t bat as well as required. These things happen.”
Sharma emphasized the importance of trusting the team’s plans and processes. “The New Zealand batters showed that,” he said. “We used to do that. So, yeah, it happens.”
