India’s fortress has fallen, and the 3-0 series loss to New Zealand has left fans and experts stunned.
Known for their home advantage, the Indian team struggled to find rhythm and faced challenges in
every match.
At Bangalore, they faltered with the bat. In Pune, the batting and fielding lacked bite. Finally, as seen a few hours before, in Mumbai, missed opportunities piled up.
The once-reliable Indian lineup seemed out of sync, unable to adapt to the conditions or the Kiwi strategies. Questions are now being asked about team selection, game plans, and whether overconfidence may have played a role.
As we break down the reasons behind this unexpected defeat, it’s clear that India has some serious introspection to do before their next series.
India’s recent home dominance hadn’t come without challenges; over the past year and a half, there
were moments when the team seemed vulnerable. Against Australia and England, they faced tough
situations but always found someone to step up and save the day, preserving their impressive home
record. However, this time, there was no hero to bail them out. Despite their reputation, India couldn’t find the spark needed to hold their ground, and the once-invincible fortress has now been conquered.
Let’s delve into the possible reasons behind India’s fortress being breached and examine what might
have led to this unexpected downfall on home soil.
Batting Concerns
The Indian batting lineup on home soil has shown cracks over the last year and a half. Whether against Australia, England, or even Bangladesh, the top order has struggled on tracks that offered assistance to seam or spin. In Chennai, Bangladesh’s bowlers exposed India’s vulnerability on a seaming pitch before Ashwin and Jadeja came to the rescue. Lower-order contributions have often saved India—Axar Patel’s knock in Delhi or Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav’s heroics in Ranchi kept the team afloat in previous series.
This time, however, there was no such escape. The top order faltered in all three Tests, with only a
few noteworthy innings from Jaiswal and Gill, though even they struggled for consistency. Key players
like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had a dismal run, failing to anchor the innings when it mattered.
New Zealand’s seamers tore through India’s batting lineup in Bangalore, and then their spinners took
charge in Pune and Mumbai, leaving India without answers and ultimately costing them the series.
Defensive mindset
Another key factor in India’s downfall was their unusually defensive approach
throughout the series, seen in their batting, bowling, and even captaincy. Unlike the proactive,
aggressive style typically displayed in home Tests, India seemed to be waiting for New Zealand to
make mistakes instead of taking control themselves.
In batting, most players—apart from Rishabh Pant and, at times, Gill and Jaiswal—failed to put any
real pressure on the Kiwi spinners, allowing them to dictate the pace of the game. This cautious
approach backfired, especially on spinning tracks, where India’s defensive gameplay was exposed and
only made it easier for New Zealand to tighten their grip on each match.
India’s defensive approach wasn’t limited to their batting—it was evident in their bowling and
captaincy as well. When Devon Conway attacked Ashwin in Bangalore, it seemed to set the tone for
the series.
In response, Rohit and the spinners quickly resorted to deep field placements, with a deep
point and midwicket often set right from the start of the innings. This allowed New Zealand’s batters
to rotate strike easily, reducing the need for risky shots and enabling them to build pressure-free
partnerships.
According to ESPNCricinfo, a notable 23% of New Zealand’s runs throughout the series came from
singles and doubles, showing just how comfortable they were in maneuvering the field. This overly cautious field setting from Rohit can be seen as timid and, ultimately, poor captaincy—a tactical
misstep that allowed New Zealand to maintain strong control over the series.
Shot selection and Team Selection
India’s team selection and the shot choices of their batters raised significant concerns. On the turning track in Mumbai, India went with two seamers—Siraj and Akashdeep—a decision that seemed questionable given the conditions.
Siraj, struggling with form over the past year, bowled only six overs and offered nothing with the bat, leaving many to wonder if an extra batter or Axar Patel might have been a better choice. Axar, who had proven his batting ability against Australia on similar pitches, would not only have bolstered the batting lineup but also contributed more overs than Siraj. Playing two seamers on a spin-friendly track felt like a forced decision that backfired.
The Indian batters also compounded their struggles against spin with poor shot selection. Reckless shots at critical moments cost India dearly. Sarfaraz’s attempt to hit Santner over mid-off in Pune and
Jaiswal’s reverse sweep in Mumbai were costly missteps. Indian batters seemed to lack the finesse of using their feet against spin, with modern techniques like sweeping and reverse sweeping now taking
precedence.
These lapses in both selection and shot-making prevented India from capitalizing on key
opportunities and ultimately contributed to their undoing.
Credit must be given to New Zealand for their historic and well-deserved series victory; they outplayed India in all departments and executed their plans to perfection. For India, this defeat serves as a wake-up call, highlighting areas that need serious introspection—from team selection and tactical approach to adaptability on home soil. As they look ahead, India must address these gaps to reclaim their dominance and learn from this rare setback at home.
