2024 Test cricket series between India and New-Zealand: A tragedy or humdinger.
Sanjoy Roy.
November 1, 2024, 10:34:08
The result of ongoing Test cricket series comprising three test matches between India and New-Zealand (Kiwi) is almost settled and known to all with third test commenced from 1st November 2024 in Mumbai's Wankhede stadium. India is not only trailing in series by 2-0 but the morale of players is also down and shattered. Many Indian supporters are shocked and baffled. The new coaches including the support staff and seasoned captain Rohit Sharma are clueless how to tackle the Kiwis particularly their bowlers irrespective of spin or pace. In Bangalore, the team got bundled out to a disgraceful paltry score of 46 when the Kiwi pace bowlers had blown Indian side out of the contest and pocketed the match within 3 hours from the start of five-day test match while in the second test a left-arm Kiwi spinner had gobbled most Indian batters in both innings grabbing 13 of the 20 wickets single handedly and won the match and series as well. It is really a melancholy to reckon that Indian team had lost a test series for the first time against Newzealand in home condition as well as a home series defeat after a lag of 12 years that occurred against England.
The present state of Indian team appears gloomy with almost all batters found suffering from pitiable form, consistency and composure during this series. With a view to playing aggressive and attacking cricket, Indian batsmen forgot to apply themselves when situation demanded them to show restraint but they stuck to aggressive cricket thus brought downfall. Not a single batsman could show fortitude and maturity at highest order while negotiating either the spinners or pacers. In the second innings of the first test, at one stage Indian team had been at 400 for 3. But the team got suddenly scuttled to 459 when new ball was taken by Kiwi Skipper as a last resort to break the prolonged innings between Sarfaraj and Risav Pant. Although Sarfaraj and Pant were not new in international cricket and they knew that restraining their shots against the new ball for few overs could sway the match completely in India’s favour with seven batsmen still waiting in the pavilion, they faltered to spend five to six overs silently and could not control them from playing the risky shots. What they did with the new ball was uncalled-for. Sarfaraj who had been batting on 150 runs went for a glory shot against New ball and became an immediate victim of Kiwi pacer and opened the door for kiwi bowlers to pick up one after another wicket including the wicket of Risav Pant on 99. Not a single batter after the dismissals of Sarfaraj and Risav could show any resistance and fell like a pack of cards and the team had ended the second innings at 459 asking Kiwi batters to score 107 and win the match and done by Kiwis professionally.
Had Indian batmen been circumspect and applied them properly, Indian could score at least 150 run more easily that would take more time and would cause the victory of Kiwis a difficult task in first test match. But Indian batters didn't do this. It is looked that they were preoccupied with aggressive batting and they had been day dreaming for victory. Aggression is good but it should not at the cost of weakening one’s own fortress. The way Indian batters particularly those who came after the departures of Risav and Sarfaraj had meekly surrendered, it was painful to see and believe. Conversely, when Indian spinners had been bowling in the wickets of both tests, Kiwi batters could score runs easily hitting the ball out of the boundary and the field. It was a sheer humiliation for Indian spinners knowing the conditions of pitches and possessing enough experiences and varieties in their armouries but to no avail. The kiwi team scored almost equal runs both innings of 2nd test match after winning the toss on a wicket aiding the spinners from day one while Indian batters had failed again very miserably and could not resist one traditional left arm slow spinner and squandered the series .The question arises ‘why’?
The performance of the team during this series against Newzealand indicates that the team has been suffering from over-confidence and complacency. Indian team management might have underrated Kiwis and thought that they would beat the kiwis effortlessly at home soil and would amass necessary points to ensure their berth for the next world test championship final before going to Australia on a five test match series in November 2024. The lack of professionalism in the attitude of the team management coupled with inadequate feedback about the strength and history of success of Newzealand team against India in many important matches / tournaments may be the reasons for the downfall of the team. The team management committed blunder in reading the Kiwi team properly during this time. Had not been this case, why Indian team in Bangalore had opted for batting first on a wet pitch against the team who had always given immense troubles to Indian team several times and remained as stumbling block. The team management contemplated that if the batters could negotiate the Kiwi pacers for first ten to fifteen overs, the team would be able to pile up good scores and pose problems on the kiwis in the fourth innings with two leading spinners. But they forgot that Kiwi pacers are formidable and would not allow Indian batters to go easy on a juicy and wet pitch. Ultimately opposite results emerged. It may be mentioned that Indian team had suffered in the final of first test championship against the Kiwis batting first on a rain-affected pitch in England in 2021, and again against the Kiwis in semi-final of world cup in 2019 in England when rain interrupted the game besides the defeat in UAE in 2021 T20 world Test championship with the history of loss beginning from 2000 in the Champions trophy final in Nairobi.
The poor form of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shuvman Gill was no doubt a serious lacunae but the team management was not proactive and pragmatic, rather apathetic. The combination of players proved wrong. As Rohit, Virat and Shuvman Gill had been running with poor form, there was no reason of going with five bowlers on Indian soil where spinners exert pivotal role. The induction of six batters could embolden the batting and the defeat of 113 runs in the second innings could easily be averted if sixth batter would be in the side. It is also feared whether proper coordination is missing in the team, between the coach and senior players in the side or whether their lies any conflict within the team or with the new coach. Given the previous history as well as old turmoil between Virat and Gambhir , this cannot be brushed aside when Gambhir had also compelled Virat and Rohit to play in the ODI series against the Sri-Lanka which was also lost by India under the leadership of Rohit. Thus the situation does not augur very well while performances and bond between Rohit and Gambhir do not exhibit anything resplendent till date except the series against Bangladesh. A sense of insecurity may have crept among some players causing them most vulnerable and adrift impacting the overall results of the team. Thus BCCI bosses need to look into the matter meticulously and immediately before the situation worsens further for the sake of safeguarding and protecting the reputation and goodwill of Indian Cricket. In a nut shell it may be mentioned that the defeat of the team against the kiwis is undoubtedly a tragedy for the Indian team as the chances of playing in Test championship final is getting tougher while it is a humdinger for the Kiwis being first historic victory in India.
(Tripurainfo)