The Breakdown - Why and how India lost 2 Tests at home against New Zealand
Team India went down to New Zealand by 113 runs in the second Test played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Chasing a challenging target of 359, the hosts only managed to score 245. As a result of the defeat, India suffered their first Test series loss at home in 12 years.
Before the debacle in Pune, India had lost the first Test of the series at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by eight wickets. Putting up a dominant display with both bat and ball, the Kiwis stunned Rohit Sharma and co. to register their first win in a Test match in 36 years.
While New Zealand are basking in the glory of a tremendous achievement, India have been left wondering what stung them. In the wake of the hosts suffering an unexpected Test series loss at home, we dig deep and analyze what went wrong.
Tossing away the advantage in Bengaluru
India gave New Zealand the upper hand very early in the three-match series when Rohit decided to bat first after winning the toss in Bengaluru. Day 1 of the Test had been completely washed out due to rain and conditions were perfect for pace bowlers on Day 2, when the match eventually got underway.
India kicked themselves in the foot by allowing New Zealand's bowlers to flourish in conditions similar to what they encountered back home. Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke had a feast at the expense of India's batters. And while the visitors deserve credit for some superlative bowling, they were helped to a great extent by some shambolic batting from India.
Irrespective of the nature of the surface, the hosts had no business getting bundled out for 46. After deciding to bat first, Rohit should have led from the front. Instead, he set the wrong tone by aimlessly charging down the pitch to nemesis Tim Southee and getting bowled. The rest of the line-up seemed to follow suit as five batters ended up perishing for ducks.
Outspun and outsmarted in Pune
Having come unstuck against pace in Bengaluru, India went for a turning track in Pune, with spin bowlers coming into play from Day 1 itself. The decision to pick off-spinner Washington Sundar ahead of Kuldeep Yadav met with initial resistance from critics. However, they were forced to change their tune after Sundar ended up registering career-best figures of 7-59 in the first innings.
While preparing a rank turner, though, India perhaps did not factor in the probability of the move backfiring. And so, while Sundar ended up claiming 11 wickets in the Pune Test, Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner nullified his efforts by snaring 13 scalps. What hurt India the most was the fact that Ravichandran Ashwin picked up only five wickets in the match and Ravindra Jadeja three.
After the hosts decided to go for a surface that would offer plenty for the spinners, their expectations would have been for Ashwin and Jadeja to run through the opposition, as the duo has done innumerable times in the past. However, while Sundar managed to make a huge impact, Ashwin and Jadeja were anything but threatening. To their credit, New Zealand's batters played them rather smartly.
Lack of application from batters
India's much-vaunted batting attack crumbled like nine pins in the first two Tests against New Zealand. Forty six all-out in the first innings in Bengaluru was just the start. The hosts made a strong comeback in the second innings. At one point, they were 408-3, having conceded a huge lead of 356. However, India lost seven wickets for a mere 54 runs. The Kiwi batters then did the rest to create history.
Hopes of Indian fans were raised when New Zealand were bowled out for 259 on Day 1 of the Pune Test. However, the hosts suffered another batting collapse to be rolled over for 156 in 45.3 overs. Down on confidence and form, there was no way they were going to chase down a target of 359 despite a positive start.
Hint of overconfidence?
After India conceded the series in Pune, skipper Rohit casually commented at the post-match press conference, '12 saal mei ek baar toh allowed hai' (Such things are okay once in 12 years). While the 37-year-old is known for his relaxed demeanor at media interactions, this statement definitely hints at overconfidence as do some of decisions and tactics employed in the first two Tests.
Be it the decision to bat first in Bengaluru or Rohit's move of holding back Ashwin till the very end in the second innings, the choices made had little cricketing logic. Captain Rohit and Virat Kohli skipping domestic matches when they were available to play also points towards something similar. Overall, be it while batting or in the field, the killer instinct seemed to be missing against the Kiwis.
Ageing superstars
India's loss to New Zealand has coincided with their four big names failing to make an impact. Looking at batting first, skipper Rohit has managed 62 runs at an average of 15.50. As for Kohli, he has scored 88 runs, averaging 22. Both batters looked out of sorts against Bangladesh as well. These are not great signs.
In the bowling department, the seasoned spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja have only managed six wickets each in the series so far. Significantly, they have lacked penetration, something which has been their hallmark over the years. Santner and Sundar have taken more wickets in one Test in comparison to the spin greats. That's a damning stat, hinting the end is near for Team India's superstars.