Team India approached the New Zealand tour with full of zest and confidence. Much to their decisive strategy, they have executed their plans to perfection. As a result, they were able to inflict 5-0 T20I whitewash on the hosts. But when the focus shifted to the ODI and Test format, it was a different story altogether.
Virat Kohli-led team allowed the Kane Williamson-led team dictate tempo in the game owing to a mundane performance. As the games progressed, Indians clearly lacked enough firepower to outsmart the Black Caps. The Men in Blue failed miserably in all the three ODIs as New Zealand complete a 3-0 whitewash against Team India.
Moving on to the Test format, India were completely outplayed by the hosts in all facets of the game in the Wellington Test. New Zealand were the first team to end India’s seven-match unbeaten run-streak.
Soon after that, the hosts continued their form from where they left off and beat India in the second and final Test in Christchurch as New Zealand completed yet another whitewash against India.
VVS Laxman impressed with Virat Kohli’s mannerism for the 0-2 loss in New Zealand
Former Indian batting great VVS Laxman was pretty much impressed with Indian captain Kohli as the latter did not offer any excuses for the 0-2 humiliating defeat in New Zealand.
In his column for the Times of India, Laxman wrote, “It was against New Zealand in Christchurch (AFP Photo) refreshing to hear Virat Kohli offer no excuses for the 0-2 loss in New Zealand and stress on acceptance of the outcome, but I hope India do address the issues that hurt them badly in probably one of their worst overseas outings of late.
The next Test series isn’t until December, so the temptation to write this off as a one-off could be overwhelming. But if India wants to avoid a repeat of this display in Australia later in the year, they can’t afford to gloss over what transpired in New Zealand.”
India’s mental and technical frailties were exposed by New Zealand: VVS Laxman
Indian captain Kohli managed to score only 38 runs in four Test innings which was one of the biggest setbacks for Team Indian in the series. Kohli’s string of low scores read 2, 19, 3 and 14 respectively.
In what was a forgettable tour for Kohli, he scored just one fifty in the eight innings he had played in New Zealand.
According to Laxman, the Black Caps exposed India’s mental and technical weakness.
“The other aspect that stood out was a repetition of mistakes from the same batsmen. Virat was trapped leg before to the ball coming in twice in the second Test, Mayank Agarwal fell in similar fashion in both innings in Christchurch to Trent Boult’s inswingers, Prithvi Shaw was cramped up and dismissed fending balls following him in the second innings of both Tests.
Test cricket is an unforgiving cauldron where there is no room for tentativeness. India’s technical and mental frailties were badly exposed by a New Zealand side that looked out for the count during the T20s, but that knows how to win at home better than most other teams,” Laxman wrote.
India’s upcoming home assignment is against South Africa. Team India is yet to announce the squad for the three-match ODI series while South Africa have already announced their 15-man squad.
The first ODI match is scheduled to be played at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh on March 12 (Thursday).