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After winning the last test match at Wankhede stadium, New Zealand team have created history by clinching the series 3-0, thereby becoming the first team since 1934 to wipe out India in their own backyard. Now, it is time for Indian Cricket management, coaching staff and players to do a serious introspection of their ability to play spin and re-look the pitches that are being prepared.
Let’s not put this loss under the carpet by saying that it is only the third series being lost at home in the last 24 years (England – 2012 and Australia – 2004). The most embarrassing part is that the New Zealand team defeated team India in the conditions that are more suitable to the latter, in the pitches that our team are more accustomed to play under and finally the style of play that we are considered the best – SPIN.
Credit to New Zealand batters for playing India’s world-class spin attack well, their bowlers for spinning and pitching the bowl better, and adapting to the Indian conditions better than any other touring nation.
A key reason for India’s loss was the struggle against spin. In the three test matches, we lost 37 wickets to the New Zealand spin attack. Rohit Sharma in his post-match press conference blamed the shot selection of players as a key reason for the loss of the third test match.
Before putting the blame on IPL and T20, as usual culprits after every loss, let’s acknowledge that Rishabh Pant, an icon of the T20 world, was the highest scorer for India with 240+ runs in 6 innings. Our older players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have already announced their retirement from the format.
The team selection for the series had a right blend of new and old generation players. Selection of Washington Sundar must be applauded as he scored with the bat and also took 16 wickets in two test matches that he played.
The issue is deeper, it is the art of playing spin that has been getting lost over the past few years and needs to make a comeback in the next home series. The traditional way of playing spin like on back foot, stepping out, using wrists, and using soft hands are diminishing and must make a comeback. It is more important now to make this correction as many new players would be coming into the team over the next 3-4 years, imparting these basic techniques would go a long way in our test cricket success story.
To make this possible, may I suggest BCCI to align a batting coach that specializes in playing spin, someone like VVS Laxman, Virendra Sehwag, or Cheteshwar Pujara.
It is not a rejection of head coach Gautam Gambhir who recently took the job, but it is also important to know that all his success as a coach have come in IPL or T20 format. The Indian batting line-up’s ability of playing spin have been declining for some time now, even when Rahul Dravid (great player of spin) was coach.
It is the style and technique of playing spin that needs correction, primarily in India where there are turning pitches OR we must start preparing pitches which are more suitable for fast bowling attack.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.