New Zealand made a clean sweep due to the poor performance of the veterans, what will be the situation on the Australia tour?

Nothing can be more shameful than this. A bad phase in cricket history has just passed. People would like to soon forget the pitiful performance the Indian team has shown at home. But, there are some bitter memories which are not easy to forget. Who would have thought that the New Zealand team would come to India and annihilate us 3-0? Team India, equipped with star players, succumbed very easily. This shameful defeat has been written in the pages of history. This cannot be changed now. It takes a lot of time to earn respect and prestige in the sports world, but one moment is enough to lose it. The Indian team had become the number one team in the last decade. We were leading the points table of the ICC Test Championship. But, after this disappointing performance, they have come at number two. In the last 12 years, India was unbeatable in Test match series on its own soil. The England team came here in 2012 and defeated Team India in the Test series. Not only this, New Zealand never won a Test series in India, but this dream has also come true in 2024. Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has absolutely rightly said that ‘this defeat is not going to be easily digested. This defeat demands introspection.

There is anger among the cricket lovers of the country while experts are analyzing the defeat from their level. Actually, this has never happened before so the entire team has come under target. The biggest reason is the failure of senior players. If they had played their role responsibly, the situation would not have been so bad. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, these four players all seem to be more guilty. The question arises that what is the use of your long experience? None of them understood the need to stay on the wicket. Test matches are the real test of your patience, technique and skills. Our team is well aware of the home ground conditions. Despite this you could not respond to the attack of the opposition team. Even if they had fought and lost, it would have been a matter of luck, but they left the field. Demand for retirement from all four senior players has also started rising. A question is arising that how will the Indian team face Australia after the humiliating defeat at home. It is very difficult to score runs on the bouncy pitches there.

Spin bowling has always been India’s main strength. This is the reason why when matches are held in the country, spin-friendly wickets are prepared. The host team has the freedom to prepare the pitch as per their choice. All countries take advantage of this. This is not a new thing. In the last decade, on the basis of this strength, India has crushed the opposition teams. It is also said that our players play spin bowling well. But, this time the move backfired. New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner in Pune and Ajaz Patel gave a tough test to the Indian batsmen in the Mumbai Test. The target of 147 runs to win also became like a mountain for India. Experienced batsman Virat Kohli has always been a victim of spinners. In comparison to them, India’s spinners were seen struggling for wickets. BCCI will have to make a policy regarding what kind of home pitch should be made. The result of making the desired pitch is in front of all of us.

When head coach Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended after the T-20 World Cup in June, Gautam Gambhir was brought in his place. Under the coaching of Gambhir, Kolkata Knight Riders team won this year’s IPL title. Therefore BCCI made him the head coach of the Indian team. But, his coaching excellence was not visible in the Test series against New Zealand. The captain and coach take many decisions together. The coach plays an important role in making the match strategy. But many decisions proved wrong in this series. It was a wrong decision to send Mohammed Siraj as night watchman in the Mumbai Test. The number eleven player should not have been fielded in this role. Washington Sundar or Ashwin could have been sent in his place. BCCI has also given Gambhir some rights which were not given to former coaches Ravi Shastri or Rahul Dravid. When the weather was bad in Bengaluru and the first day of the match was ruined due to rain, the decision to bat after winning the toss the next day also proved to be completely wrong. Well, this was a huge mistake of captain Rohit which he also accepted. The entire team collapsed for 46 runs in the first innings. In such a situation, why did coach Gautam Gambhir not give proper advice to the captain?

After the disappointing performance of the Indian team on home ground, now apprehensions are being expressed about the Australia tour. This month the team has to go there for a five-Test series. The first Test will start in Perth on 22 November. However, in the last two tours, India has defeated the Kangaroo team in the Test series. But, considering the current situation, this series is not looking easy. Then our team had strong players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. This time there is no player visible who can survive on the fast pitches there. Since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are going through poor form, the problem looks grave. Everyone is a lion in his own land. Then the Australian team is ready to take revenge for the previous defeat. In such a situation, this tour is going to be very challenging for India.

Rumors of changing the team captain have also started. Current captain Rohit Sharma is a victim of increasing age. His own performance is under criticism. Who should be handed over the command of the Test team is a tricky question. Vice captain Jasprit Bumrah has no captaincy experience. In such a situation, voices are being raised for Rishabh Pant who has scored the most runs against New Zealand with two half centuries. He captains the Delhi team in IPL. Shubhman Gill’s name is also being taken. But, his performance lacks consistency. Whatever happens, the Australia tour will decide the future of many players. If the team’s performance is poor there too then it will be mandatory to change the captain.