India’s Test woes continued as they suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The Rohit Sharma-led side’s batting woes were exposed once again, with their struggles against spin bowling becoming a major concern.
Former cricketers and fans alike have called for the return of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to the national side. Both players have enjoyed success in Australia, and their experience and solidity could provide much-needed stability to the Indian batting line-up.
Pujara has scored 602 runs in his last 20 innings before being dropped, averaging 33.4 with four fifties and a hundred. Rahane, on the other hand, has amassed 808 runs in his last 20 innings, averaging 42.5 with nine fifties and a hundred.
In contrast, Rohit Sharma has scored 550 runs in his last 20 innings, averaging 28.9 with two fifties and two hundreds. Virat Kohli has scored 823 runs in his last 20 innings, but his average drops below 29 if his 186-run knock is removed.
Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar has called for introspection and urged the team management to stop “needless experimentation” in the Test format. He also emphasized the need for better pitches.
Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh echoed Tendulkar’s sentiments, calling for a review of the team’s performance and a focus on playing on more challenging surfaces.
India’s defeat marks the first time they have been whitewashed 0-3 at home. The loss has raised serious questions about the team’s preparation, shot selection, and match practice.
