Image Source: PTI
[Saba Sports News] India captain Rohit Sharma termed the second Test defeat to New Zealand a “collective failure,” as his team succumbed to a 113-run loss at the MCA Stadium in Pune. This series loss marks India’s first Test defeat at home in 12 years.
Rohit acknowledged that the team, including senior players like himself and Virat Kohli, struggled to adapt to the spinning conditions, and the match wrapped up in just three days due to New Zealand’s dominant bowling.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner led the charge, claiming 13 wickets in the match.
In the post-match presentation, Rohit admitted that India couldn’t put enough runs on the board, especially in the first innings.
“Disappointing. It is not what we expected, but credit to New Zealand; they played better than us. We failed to capitalize on certain moments and respond to the challenges, leading to this result,” Rohit remarked.
He emphasized the importance of a strong first innings: “We didn’t bat well enough to get the necessary runs on the board. The batters have to deliver so we can defend with the ball. Falling 100 runs behind in the first innings was crucial.”
Rohit also addressed the press, explaining that he wasn’t planning any drastic actions based on this performance alone. “I won’t react differently just because of these three sessions.
Over the last 12 years, we’ve won nearly 80 percent of our home Tests,” he shared, highlighting the team’s successes over the past decade. “I don’t want to create an environment where players start doubting themselves. There’s no need to overreact, but we need a quiet chat with certain individuals to let them know what we expect as a team.”
India’s captain also voiced support for players new to challenging tours, like the upcoming series in Australia, saying he’d keep the atmosphere calm and make sure they feel they belong on this stage.
He reiterated his belief in the team’s abilities, saying, “Just because we’ve lost this series doesn’t mean we need drastic changes. We need to find ways to handle the pressure better.”
The Indian team managed to bowl New Zealand out on the third day, setting a target of 359. While Yashasvi Jaiswal showed resilience with a knock of 77, India’s hopes of a successful chase faded as New Zealand’s bowlers applied relentless pressure. Rohit admitted, “We came out thinking we could chase the target, but constant pressure from both ends meant we couldn’t respond.”
Asked if New Zealand’s first-innings score felt excessive, Rohit responded, “When they were 200 for three, we did well to pull them back to 259. The pitch wasn’t offering much, but we didn’t bat well enough to capitalize.”
Despite the setback, he remained optimistic for the upcoming match, stating, “We want to come out at Wankhede with better intent and ideas. This is a collective failure—not just batters or bowlers—and we’re focusing on what we can improve as a team.”