IND vs NZ 2024: 3 similarities between India's 2017 and 2024 Test defeats in Pune
New Zealand beat India by a comprehensive margin of 113 runs in the second Test at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje, Pune on Saturday, October 26. The win allowed the Kiwis to take a 2-0 lead in the series, with one match yet to be played in Mumbai from November 1.
India fared poorly with the bat in both innings of this match and allowed their opponents to surge ahead. The unassuming New Zealand side, without the affable Kane Williamson in their ranks, took every challenge the hosts sent their way and converted them into opportunities. The Black Caps went about their business quietly and secured a one-sided win.
India's defeat has drawn a lot of comparisons to a similar loss they suffered at the same venue against Australia in the first Test of the series back in 2017. In this listicle, we take a look at three such similarities between the two defeats:
#1 Abject batting failure in both innings
Perhaps the biggest thing in common between these two games was the fact that India batted poorly in all four innings. Against Australia in 2017, the hosts were bowled out for a lowly 105 and 107 in their respective two innings. They hardly put up a fight against the Kangaroos, who were rather surprised at how easy their job was with the ball.
Similarly, in the Test against New Zealand in 2024, India were bundled out for 156 and 245 in their two innings. This was due to their batting unit's inability to come to terms with the nature of the surface on offer. The memory of both these matches will go on to haunt India for a long time.
#2 The bogey of the opposition's left-arm spinner
Another interesting similarity between these two games is that the opposition's left-arm spinner was successful in breaking their batting unit. While it was Steve O'Keefe in 2017, Mitchell Santner did it in 2024.
In the 2017 Test, O'Keefe picked up 6-35 and 6-35 in the two innings he bowled to the Indians. In the 2024 Test, Santner wreaked havoc with 7-53 in the first innings and 6-104 in the second.
India were outdone by the accuracy and guile of the two left-arm spinners in both of these Tests. Their batters failed to read the length bowled by them well and constantly tried to play down the wrong line.
#3 Virat Kohli's failure to make it big
Another eerie similarity between these two Tests was the lack of runs from Virat Kohli. While he got out for 0 and 13 in 2017, he was dismissed for 1 and 17 in 2024. Since he was India's batting mainstay in both these games (along with being captain in 2017), him being quiet with the bat came back to haunt the home side big-time.
In three out of these four innings in Pune, Kohli was dismissed by a left-arm spinner, which opens up a lot of uncomfortable questions about his ability to tackle them in home conditions. Being the genius that he is, however, it is only a matter of time before Kohli gets back on his feet and shows the world his expertise.