India’s 0-Three whitewash at dwelling to New Zealand is arguably some of the undesirable moments of cricketing historical past for a nation mad concerning the sport.
Whereas the Sunday collapse in Mumbai proved the final straw, all the pieces went mistaken for Rohit Sharma‘s group proper from the primary Take a look at in Bengaluru.
TOI takes a have a look at the important thing moments that led to a humiliating dwelling collection verdict…
Rohit’s Bengaluru blunder: The choice to bat first on a sticky Chinnaswamy observe underneath cloudy skies reeked of overconfidence by India. The little little bit of first-session juice that the pitch needed to supply was sufficient for Kiwi bowlers, Tim Southee, Matt Henry and William O’Rourke to scythe by the Indian batting line-up and bowl them out for 46.
Spectacular 2nd-innings collapse: India had managed to salvage the state of affairs within the second innings with a effective 177-run fourth-wicket partnership between Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan. A late middle-order resistance was the necessity of the hour. However with the introduction of second new-ball, India collapsed from 408-Three to 462 all out, that finally led to the 8-wicket loss.
One other first-innings capitulation: After proscribing New Zealand to 259 within the first innings within the second Take a look at in Pune, the Indian batters merely threw it away towards left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (7-53) of their first innings. There was little or no sense of utility and the second the group conceded a 103-run lead on a crumbling observe, the sport was all however over for India.
Ashwin‘s dry spell at Wankhede: R Ashwin has been central to India’s success over the past decade at dwelling. However this time he was not at his greatest and his spell of 0-47 within the first innings of the third Take a look at on a minefield of a pitch was approach beneath expectations. Given the situations, the Indian spin assault ought to have saved New Zealand to approach beneath their first innings tally of 235.
Ro-Ko’s wretched run continues: Chasing 147, all India wanted was a half-decent effort from senior execs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on Sunday. The Indian captain’s mistimed pull off Matt Henry was a sign of his poor kind all through the collection whereas Kohli regarded like a sitting duck towards the left-arm spin of Ajaz Patel. With 29-5 very quickly, there actually was no approach again for India and the 0-Three whitewash made the document books towards the much-vaunted hosts.
