Cricket

India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns about the team's performance, particularly the struggles of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri believes it's crucial for these players to step up in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Ghavri expressed disappointment with India's batting performance against New Zealand, highlighting the lack of big partnerships and the inability to post competitive totals. He emphasized the need for top-order batters to occupy the crease and score substantial runs.Regarding Rohit and Kohli, Ghavri acknowledged their class but stressed the need for them to regain form. He believes their performances in Australia will determine their future in Test cricket. "If they don't perform, it's time for them to call a time on their Test careers," he said.Ghavri also raised concerns about India's pace attack, particularly the absence of Mohammed Shami. He believes Shami's experience and skill would have been invaluable in Australia. The former pacer expressed confidence in Jasprit Bumrah but acknowledged the added pressure he will face leading the bowling unit.Ghavri suggested that India could consider bringing back Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, given their experience and stability in the middle order. He believes their presence would have been beneficial in Australia.Regarding India's struggles against spin, Ghavri attributed it to poor shot selection and a lack of patience. He emphasized the need for batters to adapt to Test conditions and play with discipline.Overall, Ghavri expressed concern about India's chances in Australia, predicting a 60-40 advantage for the hosts. He believes the team needs to perform well, especially Rohit and Kohli, to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

India's batting woes against spin have been laid bare in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The hosts suffered humiliating defeats in all three matches, with their batsmen failing to cope with the turning tracks.In the first Test in Bengaluru, India's decision to bat first in overcast conditions backfired, leading to a disastrous 46 all out in the first innings. However, the batting failures in Pune and Mumbai were even more alarming, as the hosts surrendered meekly against spin.Ajaz Patel's six-wicket spell in Mumbai scripted a 25-run victory for New Zealand, despite India needing just 147 to win. Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes this defeat is an admission that Indian batsmen can no longer play spin effectively."On flat tracks, we can play spin, but everybody can on a flat track. The only difference is that we play spin better than other teams on flat tracks and bowl better as well because our spinners have quality," Chopra said. "But if the track offers spin ever so slightly, then whether it is the Pune or the Wankhede in Mumbai (we fall short)."Many Indian batters resorted to playing the sweep and reverse-sweep to counter spin, but Chopra believes this is a risky strategy that requires extensive practice. "Neither we have confidence in spin, nor we have control on our shots. We are trying to find a shot when it's not there, trying sweeps, practicing it before the start of play every morning. But it's like learning a new language, my friend. If you don't know a language, it takes a lot of time to learn it," he said.Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India's batting stalwarts, failed to deliver in all three Tests, extending their poor run of form in the home season. Kohli scored just 93 runs in three innings, while Rohit aggregated 91. Rishabh Pant was the top-scorer of the series with 261 runs, but his efforts were not enough to prevent India's humiliating defeat.Chopra believes the lack of domestic cricket is a major factor behind India's batting woes against spin. "When we focus more on white-ball cricket, then that habit of playing on turning pitches vanishes. We don't even remember when our main players last appeared in a first-class domestic match. So where are you going to practice?" he said.Rohit last played a domestic first-class match in 2016, while Kohli's last domestic appearance came in 2012. "You play international cricket, which is okay; but international cricket is played on good tracks 9 out of 10 times. When it happens on bad tracks, then you get caught. It's happening again and again," Chopra analyzed.India's next assignment is a limited-overs tour of South Africa, followed by a five-Test series against Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Having conceded the top spot on the World Test Championship (WTC) table to Australia, India's chances of qualifying for the WTC final are now in jeopardy.

India's humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand, their first-ever Test series loss on home soil, has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The defeat has exposed glaring deficiencies in India's batting lineup and raised questions about the team's preparation and tactics.In the third Test in Mumbai, India needed just 147 runs to win but collapsed to a 25-run defeat on a red-soil turner at the Wankhede Stadium. Barring Rishabh Pant's valiant 64, none of the Indian batters, including top-order stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could handle the spin of Ajaz Patel (6 for 57) and Glenn Phillips (3 for 42).Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has slammed India's head coach Gautam Gambhir for his IPL-like tactics, which he believes contributed to the team's downfall. Gambhir, who was appointed after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL victory earlier this year, has been criticized for his aggressive approach, which has seen India lose three consecutive Tests inside three days.Ali argues that Gambhir's tactics, which prioritize quick runs and attacking play, are not suited to Test cricket. He points to the example of England's "Bazball" approach, which has yet to yield significant results in terms of major tournament success.Ali also questions India's strategy of preparing turning tracks, which he believes has undermined the confidence of their batters. With the all-important Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia approaching, he fears that India's lack of preparation on seaming wickets could prove costly.

India's upcoming tour of Australia will be a daunting challenge, especially considering their recent 0-3 defeat to New Zealand. However, the team has opted to forgo practice matches in favor of match simulations with India A. This decision was made to maximize preparation time and ensure that all players receive adequate workload.Captain Rohit Sharma explained the rationale behind this choice. He emphasized that the team has a large squad of 19 players and only three days were allotted for practice matches. He expressed concerns that this limited time would not allow for sufficient workload distribution.Instead, India will engage in match simulations where batters can spend extended periods at the crease and bowlers can bowl a significant number of deliveries. This format allows for more targeted preparation and flexibility, as batters can be retired out to give others an opportunity to bat.India A, which includes several members of the Test squad, has already played a four-day game against Australia A. Rohit expressed confidence that the match simulation with India A will provide valuable preparation, especially given the similarities between the WACA and Optus Stadium, where the first Test will be played.The five-Test series in Australia has taken on even greater significance as India needs to win four matches to qualify for the World Test Championship final next year. Rohit's availability for the first Test is uncertain, but he remains hopeful of joining the team in Perth.

India's humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Former Indian cricketers have expressed their dismay and called for introspection.Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh have urged the team management to stop "needless experimentation" in the Test format and start playing on better pitches. They believe that the team's poor performance against spin is a major concern.Tendulkar highlighted the lack of match practice and poor shot selection as possible reasons for the debacle. He praised Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill for their fighting performances.Sehwag criticized the team's skill against spin and questioned the need for unnecessary experimentation in Test cricket. He congratulated New Zealand for their historic victory.Harbhajan Singh emphasized the need for better pitches, stating that turning tracks make every batsman look ordinary. He believes that teams don't need legendary spinners to take wickets on such surfaces.Irfan Pathan pointed out the lack of red-ball cricket for senior Indian batters as a contributing factor. He also raised concerns about the quality of domestic cricket pitches.Sanjay Manjrekar believes that India's long phase of rank turners is coming to an end.Overseas reactions included Michael Vaughan's observation that Indian batters now struggle against spin like most teams. Ian Bishop praised New Zealand's remarkable turnaround after their whitewash in Sri Lanka.Lasith Malinga hailed New Zealand's historic win, while Mitchell McClenaghan called it arguably their best ever. Mickey Arthur pointed out that India will have a point to prove in their upcoming tour of Australia.

India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat to New Zealand has sparked a wave of introspection and criticism, with former spinner Harbhajan Singh expressing his disappointment and pointing out the pitfalls of over-preparing spin-friendly pitches.Harbhajan, who played 103 Tests for India, believes that the pitches in the recent series were excessively spin-friendly, which backfired against the Kiwis. "The conditions here were offering a lot of turn—Gaddha khoda toh tha lekin gir khud gaaye (we dug a pit for others, but we ended up falling into it ourselves)," he quipped.The former spinner emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that both the captain and the team share responsibility for the defeat. He believes that while India aimed to create challenging conditions for New Zealand, the approach ultimately favored the visitors' bowling attack, particularly left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel.Patel's six wickets in the final Test sealed a thrilling 25-run win for New Zealand, dismantling India's batting lineup and securing the historic 3-0 sweep. Harbhajan believes that India could have won the series on standard pitches, potentially with a 2-0 or 2-1 margin."Test cricket means that a match should ideally go on for five days and the better team should emerge victorious. I think the conditions should not be tampered with too much. If you want to play good cricket, then you have to play on a good wicket," Harbhajan said.The series defeat has raised questions about India's pitch preparation strategy and the need for a more balanced approach. Harbhajan's comments highlight the importance of creating pitches that challenge both batsmen and bowlers, allowing for a fair contest and a more entertaining spectacle for fans.

New Zealand's historic 3-0 Test series sweep of India has been hailed as a testament to their adaptability and aggressive approach. Captain Tom Latham, who led the charge, attributed the victory to the team's collective effort and willingness to take risks."We're very, very ecstatic," Latham said after the 25-run victory in Mumbai. "We spoke about it after each Test match. We were trying to back it up, and I guess to finally do it here in Mumbai, on a completely different surface, one that would challenge us certainly with bat and ball - yeah, we're pretty happy."Latham emphasized the importance of adapting to different conditions, a key factor in their success. "I think just being able to adapt to each ground [gives the most satisfaction]," he said.The all-round performance of the team was crucial, with fast bowlers and Rachin Ravindra setting the tone in Bengaluru, and Mitchell Santner's 13-wicket haul sealing the series in Pune."We wanted to come over here and try to fire a few shots... and I certainly think we've done that," Latham said. "We've been a little bit more aggressive with the bat, tried to be a little bit more proactive, and again, with the ball, we've tried to keep things simple, understand how India play a little bit, and just try to do our best."The Mumbai Test witnessed the emergence of Ajaz Patel as a match-winner. After struggling in previous innings, Patel bagged 11 wickets in the game, including a 10-wicket haul in the second innings."Spin bowling's a little bit about rhythm, and sometimes when you're in rhythm, it's about making the most of it," Patel said. "And when the conditions present themselves to you, you have to take it by the horns and really do something for your team."New Zealand's victory marks the first time a visiting team has beaten India in a home Test series of at least three games in 12 years. It is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and aggressive approach.

Shubman Gill's resilient 90 on Day 2 of the third Test against New Zealand propelled India to a first-innings lead, cementing his position as one of India's most prolific batters in the World Test Championship (WTC).Gill's innings was a beacon of stability amidst the fall of six wickets at the other end. His 146-ball knock, which narrowly missed out on a century, showcased his maturity and composure at the crease. In the process, Gill surpassed former India No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara's tally of 1,769 runs in the WTC, moving up to fourth place among Indian batters with 1,799 runs.Rohit Sharma remains atop the list with 2,674 runs, followed by Virat Kohli (2,426) and Rishabh Pant (1,933). Gill's rise to the top echelon of Indian batting is a testament to his consistent performances since inheriting the No. 3 position from Pujara in June 2023.Gill and Pant played pivotal roles in India's first-innings total of 263, with Pant's whirlwind 60 off 59 balls providing a much-needed release of pressure. Washington Sundar's valuable 38-run cameo at the end further boosted India's score.With the ball, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja put India in a commanding position heading into Day 3. Ashwin claimed three wickets, while Jadeja picked up four, reducing New Zealand to 171/9 at stumps.New Zealand's lead of 143 runs leaves the Test match poised for a thrilling finish on Day 3. India, desperate to avoid a three-Test series loss at home for the first time since 1983, will be looking to capitalize on their advantage and secure a crucial victory.

India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has hinted at the possibility of missing the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia due to personal reasons. The series opener against Australia is scheduled to begin in Perth on November 22.Rohit expressed uncertainty about his participation, stating, "Not sure whether I will be going, fingers crossed." If he is unable to make it, Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain, will lead the team in the first Test.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has gained added significance as both India and Australia aim to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). India's recent 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand at home has put pressure on the team to perform well in Australia.Rohit acknowledged the need to recover from the defeats and focus on the upcoming tour. "We will focus on (upcoming) Australia series, and not look too far ahead," he said.After the first Test in Perth, which concludes on November 26, there will be a 10-day break before the Adelaide game, which starts on December 6. During this break, India will play a two-day warm-up match in Canberra.Rohit's absence, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to India's chances in the series. The team will be hoping that he recovers in time to lead them in the crucial opening Test.