Ex India Cricketer Slams Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli For New Zealand Whitewash

New Zealand achieved a historic 3-0 series win against India in the Test matches held in Mumbai. This marked the first time India faced a whitewash at home in a series of three or more Tests. New Zealand joined England, Australia, and West Indies as teams to have whitewashed India in such series.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled throughout the New Zealand series, contributing to India's disappointing performance. Their lack of form was evident as they failed to deliver significant runs during the matches. Rohit scored just 133 runs across 10 innings with an average of 13.30, while Kohli managed 192 runs at an average of 21.33.

Focus on Senior Players

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be crucial for both Rohit and Kohli. Former cricketer Pragyan Ojha emphasised their responsibility, stating, "They are senior players, they need to take full responsibility." He noted that their poor form exacerbated India's struggles against New Zealand.

Ojha further warned that Australia would exploit India's recent home series loss. He said, "Australia won't make it easy for them," highlighting the psychological advantage Australia might hold due to India's recent defeat.

Gautam Gambhir's Challenge

As the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir faces the challenge of revitalising the team ahead of their next series. His role will be pivotal in motivating players like Rohit and Kohli to regain form and confidence before facing Australia.

The final Test saw India set a target of 146 runs but falter early on. Rishabh Pant attempted a comeback with his second fifty of the match but eventually succumbed to Ajaz Patel's bowling. Glenn Phillips and Ajaz Patel wrapped up the game for New Zealand.

Historic Achievement for New Zealand

This victory marked New Zealand's first-ever three-Test series win, either home or away, and their first consecutive away Test wins. The team's performance was bolstered by strategic plays and effective use of reviews during critical moments.

The Indian batting order collapsed quickly in the final innings, losing half their side within eight overs with only 29 runs scored. Despite Pant's efforts to counterattack, he couldn't prevent India's defeat as New Zealand capitalised on their momentum.

This series highlighted areas where India needs improvement before facing Australia. The focus will be on key players finding form and adapting strategies to avoid similar outcomes in future matches.