Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @indiancricketteam
India’s former cricketers were left in shock after the heavy defeat against New Zealand on Sunday. Once they processed the loss, prominent figures like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh criticized the team’s performance, calling for “introspection” and urging an end to “needless experimentation” in Tests while advocating for improved pitch conditions.
India experienced a historic 0-3 whitewash at home, falling by 25 runs in the third Test to a New Zealand side that had previously lost 0-2 in Sri Lanka.
“Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection. Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection, or was it lack of match practice?” Tendulkar posted on X. India, needing 147 runs on a deteriorating Wankhede pitch, was bowled out for 121 in just 29.1 overs, marking the lowest successful target defended against them at home.
Rishabh Pant (64), who scored fifties in both innings, showed the most resilience, while Shubman Gill (90) top-scored in the first innings.
“Shubman Gill showed resilience in the first innings, and Rishabh Pant was brilliant in both innings — his footwork made a challenging surface look like a different one altogether. He was simply superb,” Tendulkar added.
Virender Sehwag described it as a poor performance, emphasizing that skills to play spin need improvement and that experimentation in Test cricket is not advisable. “Congratulations to Tom Latham and his @blackcapsnz boys on doing what is a dream for every visiting team and no other could conquer in this way.”
This defeat also dropped India from the top of the World Test Championship standings and highlighted their struggle against spin, as New Zealand’s spinners claimed 37 of 57 Indian wickets. Mitchell Santner took 13 wickets in the second Test in Pune, and Ajaz Patel secured an impressive 11-wicket haul in Mumbai.
Harbhajan Singh, criticizing the pitches, remarked, “Turning pitches becoming your own enemy… These turning pitches make every batsman look very ordinary. Earlier generations’ batsmen never played on these kinds of tracks.”
Irfan Pathan noted that the absence of top players in domestic cricket, along with changes in pitch types, contributed to the decline in India’s red-ball performance.
Sanjay Manjrekar commented on India’s “long phase of rank turners,” while former England captain Michael Vaughan noted that India’s batters now face similar challenges against spin as other teams. “To win in India is incredible, but to deliver a clean sweep is remarkable… has to be the greatest ever Test series victory.”
Former players from other nations also reacted, with Ian Bishop praising New Zealand’s achievement given their small population and the absence of Kane Williamson.
Lasith Malinga celebrated New Zealand’s turnaround from their loss in Sri Lanka, calling it “a historic moment in New Zealand cricket history.” New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan called it “arguably the Black Caps’ best win of all time,” and Mickey Arthur noted the result as motivation for India heading into their tour of Australia.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
