India's captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the third day of the third and final Test cricket match between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. — AFP

India captain Rohit Sharma admitted on Sunday that their 3-0 Test series defeat by New Zealand was a career 'low point' but vowed a revival during the upcoming tour of Australia. The hosts suffered a 25-run loss in the third Test within three days at Mumbai, marking only their second home series whitewash. Rohit's team, heavily favored before the series, failed to chase 147 and were all out for 121.

'This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home,' said Rohit. 'I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series. With the bat as well, I have not been good enough.'

India will now travel to Australia for five Tests, commencing in Perth on November 22. India emerged victorious 2-1 against Australia in their last two Test tours. 'Australia is not an easy place to play cricket, but we can take a lot of confidence from how we played in the last two series in Australia,' Rohit said. 'In the back of our mind, we have to think like that – the Australia series for us is now very, very important.'

India has slipped to second in the World Test Championship table, now led by Australia. India will require four wins in Australia to maintain their chances of making next year's final at Lord's. Rohit's own form is a concern, dismissed cheaply on Sunday for 11 and scoring only 1 run from six innings in the series. Virat Kohli also struggled with the bat, managing just one fifty with four single-digit scores. He was out for one to Ajaz Patel in the final chase.

'If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern. But what's done is done now,' said Rohit. 'I think as a player, as a captain, as a team, we all have to look forward and see how we can correct what we didn't manage to achieve here,' he added. 'There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really special in Australia.'

Rohit may miss the first two matches for 'personal reasons', according to Indian media reports. 'Right now, I am not too sure whether I will be going (for the opening match),' Rohit said. 'But let's see. Fingers crossed.'

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