Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced criticism on Monday as India grappled with a 3-0 Test series defeat at home to New Zealand, with critics labeling the team as ageing and lacking confidence. The cricket powerhouse suffered a 25-run loss on Sunday in the third Test within three days at Mumbai, marking only their second series whitewash at home. This result sealed New Zealand's historic first-ever Test series victory on Indian soil.

For India, there is little time to regroup as they head to Australia for a five-match Test series starting on November 22. 'Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow and it calls for introspection,' former captain Sachin Tendulkar wrote on social media. 'Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection or was it lack of match practice?'

India entered the series against the Black Caps ranked second in the ICC Test rankings, behind Australia, and were clear favorites. However, repeated batting collapses—they were all out for 46 in their first innings of the opening Test—set alarm bells ringing. Things hardly improved from there. 'I accept the fact that we were not good enough with the bat in the entire series,' said captain Rohit.

This particularly highlighted the Indian batsmen's surprising inability to handle spinners on turning pitches in their own backyard. Mitchell Santner took 13 wickets in the second match, while Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz Patel took 11 in the third Test to condemn India. With Australia looming, the form of 37-year-old Rohit and 35-year-old superstar batsman Kohli is of particular concern to Indian cricket fans. Rohit made 91 runs in three matches, while Kohli managed just 93.

'The cold fact is that this is now a team in transition with key figures ageing, out of form, and low on confidence,' the Times of India newspaper wrote. 'Two of their stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, seem to be in a state of terminal batting decline with a strange reluctance to acknowledge it and take corrective action like polishing their game by playing in domestic cricket,' it added.

Indian media reported that all senior players, including Rohit and Kohli, had been advised to play the domestic Duleep Trophy four-day matches, but the players refused due to a 'lack of motivation.' 'They should have had some practice, definitely,' former India captain Sunil Gavaskar told the Indian Express. 'I know we beat Bangladesh and therefore it looked as if it was going to be a cakewalk against New Zealand,' Gavaskar added. 'But New Zealand, obviously, had a better attack, with cricketers who have played in India and in the IPL, who have a sense of what Indian pitches do.'

Rohit and Kohli retired from T20 cricket after the team's World Cup triumph in June. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, 38, and Ravindra Jadeja, 35, also suddenly appear to be showing signs of age, according to critics.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com