Sachin Tendulkar Urges Introspection After India’s 0-3 defeat to New Zealand

Legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar has urged introspection following India’s disappointing 0-3 defeat in the Test series against New Zealand. The final match at Wankhede Stadium ended with India losing by 25 runs, causing them to relinquish their top position in the World Test Championship standings. They are now sitting behind Australia.

Tendulkar emphasized the need for reflection, questioning whether the loss was due to inadequate preparation, poor shot selection, or lack of match practice. He praised Shubman Gill’s resilience in the first innings and highlighted Rishabh Pant’s exceptional performance, noting how his footwork made the challenging pitch seem more straightforward. “Full credit to New Zealand for their consistent performance throughout the series. Winning 3-0 in India is an outstanding achievement,” Tendulkar posted on X.

With only the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia left in their 2023-2025 WTC cycle, India will face a tough five-match Test series across Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney from November 22 to January 7, 2025. To secure a spot in the World Test Championship final, India must win at least four matches in Australia and rely on favorable results from other series.

This defeat marked a historic moment. It was the first time India experienced a clean sweep in a home Test series since South Africa’s 2-0 victory in 1999/2000. It was India’s first-ever 3-0 clean sweep loss at home in any Test series.

A significant factor in India’s loss was their struggle against spin bowling, with 37 out of 57 wickets lost to New Zealand spinners. Former opener Virender Sehwag criticized the team’s performance, stating that while it’s crucial for fans to support the team, this series showcased a lack of skill in playing spin. He remarked, “Certain experiments in shorter formats are acceptable, but doing unnecessary experiments in Test cricket is poor.”

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan pointed to the lack of red-ball cricket exposure for players in domestic matches. He shared insights from a discussion with his brother, Yusuf Pathan, noting that top players often avoid domestic cricket, which could have long-term consequences.

Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh echoed similar sentiments, calling for the Test team to practice on better pitches and avoid turning tracks that make batsmen appear less capable. He stated, “These turning pitches have become our enemy. Congratulations to New Zealand; you outplayed us. These tracks are prepared for short Test matches and don’t require top spinners to take wickets.”

Image Credits: Lokmat Times

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