New Zealand players rejoiced following their team's victory over India at the conclusion of the third day of their second Test cricket match in the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium of Pune on Saturday. — AFP

Indian media expressed concerns on Sunday that the cricketing giant's first home Test series loss in 12 years could signal the end of an illustrious era for players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. India succumbed to New Zealand by 113 runs within three days in the second Test in Pune on Saturday, as the Black Caps secured an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. This marked New Zealand's first Test series win on Indian soil since their inaugural tour in 1955.

Tom Latham's squad brought an end to India's remarkable streak of 18 consecutive bilateral home series victories, with the home team's last series loss occurring against England in December 2012. 'End of a golden era for Rohit Sharma's India as Tom Latham does an Edmund Hillary,' read a headline in the Indian Express newspaper, drawing a parallel between the visitors' achievement and their countryman's ascent of Mount Everest in 1953.

'Beyond the group that miserably lost the Test series against New Zealand, does India have worthy replacements?' questioned an opinion piece in the same paper. 'Not really, this is all we have and that is a real cause of concern for Indian cricket.'... Rohit and Virat were woefully out of touch, their best years behind them.' Other media outlets echoed similar concerns. 'Olympus Has Fallen,' The Times of India declared on its front page.

Skipper Rohit and Kohli were among India's batting failures against a New Zealand spin attack led by Mitchell Santner. India's batting collapses in the series included 46 all out in the first innings of the opening Test and then 156 in the second. Rohit fell for a duck and eight in the second Test while Kohli made one and 17, both times succumbing to Santner's left-arm spin. Rohit downplayed the losses against New Zealand, stating, 'We are allowed one such performance in 12 years. I don't want to do too much of a post-mortem.'

However, the series defeat 'has cast a spotlight on the futures of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and their careers,' the Hindustan Times noted. 'Watching him (Kohli) bat has become more frustrating than anything else. It's hard to believe this is the same player who, not long ago, seemed nearly indestructible.' 'King Kohli' has managed just one half-century and three single-digit scores in five Tests this year. In contrast, New Zealand played spin with confidence, with Devon Conway scoring 76 and Rachin Ravindra 65 in the first innings in Pune.

India's lackluster performance has left them searching for quick solutions ahead of a five-Test tour of Australia starting next month.

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