The Indian cricket team is facing severe criticism after losing the Test series at home against New Zealand in Pune. The visiting side is 2-0 up after the first two Tests in the three-match series with a chance of clean sweep not being ruled out. This is the first time after 12 years that India have lost a Test series at home. The last time it happened MS Dhoni was still the captain of the Indian cricket team. The loss has also dented India's chances to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
The focus is on Rohit Sharma and co. as India gear up for the third Test starting in Mumbai on November 1. During the second innings of the second Test, established batter Sarfaraz Khan, who has scored a ton on the first Test, was sent at No. 7 while all-rounder Washington Sundar was sent above him. This move was criticised by former India star Sanjay Manjrekar.
"That move to have Sarfaraz Khan batting down the order and have Washington Sundar up before him those type of things should not happen. It is bizarre, those type of things Rohit Sharma needs to be careful of. I mean the T20 sort of thinking of matchups, left right hand," Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo.
Regarding India's next Tour of Australia, Manjrekar said that it's concerning. "Yes, it is a cause for concern. But thankfully when they go there, the challenges will be different," Manjrekar said.
In the match, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat. Half-centuries from Devon Conway (76 off 141 balls, with 11 fours) and Rachin Ravindra (65 off 105 balls, with five fours and a six) placed New Zealand in a commanding position at 197/3, with Ravichandran Ashwin (3/41) being the only bowler to make an early impact. After Conway's dismissal, Washington Sundar (7/59) exploited the momentum, dismissing the remaining batsmen to bowl New Zealand out for 259.
India faced the task of overcoming this modest total to gain a substantial lead. However, after Rohit Sharma's dismissal for a duck, youngsters Shubman Gill (30 off 72 balls, with two fours and a six) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30 off 60 balls, with four boundaries) could only manage a partnership of 49 runs. Similar to the first innings, Gill's dismissal opened the doors for Mitchell Santner, who wreaked havoc on the Indian lineup. Santner (7/53) and Glenn Phillips (2/26) bowled India out for just 156, with Ravindra Jadeja top-scoring with 38 off 46 balls (three fours and two sixes).
In their second innings, New Zealand capitalised on their 103-run lead. With a valuable 86 from skipper Tom Latham (133 balls, 10 fours), along with contributions from Phillips (48 off 82 balls, four boundaries, two sixes) and Tom Blundell (41 off 83 balls, three fours), the visitors set India a target of 359 runs, bowled out for 255 after impressive bowling in the first session of day three.
Sundar (4/56) led the attack, with Jadeja (3/72) and Ashwin (2/97) sweeping through the lower-middle order and tail.
Chasing 359, India started strongly with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who shared a 62-run partnership with Shubman Gill (23 off 31 balls, four boundaries). However, after Jaiswal's dismissal for 77 off 65 balls (nine fours, three sixes), India couldn't recover, succumbing to the Kiwi spinners and being bowled out for 245, resulting in a 113-run defeat.
With ANI inputs
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