India's 3-0 Kiwiwash: Rohit's men struggle in Mumbai test, spin woes persist
India were swept 3-0 by New Zealand at home. Not the Australians’ Final Frontier, with among the best teams assembled, not England’s BazBall, but New Zealand just playing Test cricket as it should be.
India did not take their eyes off the prize—a place in the World Test Championship final—rather they were too glued to it, and took their eyes off the ball. Cricket, especially if you are a batsman, is a one-ball game, because that’s all it takes to end your stay, and if you’re not focussed in the moment, you’re done.
This Indian team has built a proud home record because they play well together. There was a sense of fire under Virat Kohli, but Rohit Sharma has brought companionship back to the fore as a leader. He’s not one to cut someone down when they have had a bad day.
Rather, Rohit would put an arm around the person who could not deliver, especially when the team lost, and instead focus on giving praise and appreciation where it was possible, within the context. But, when you get drubbed 3-0 at home, where do you turn? The fact is that this Indian team does not play spin, turn or slow bowling anywhere near as well as their predecessors. There are multiple valid reasons for this. Most of India’s regular all-format players have neither the time nor the energy to play domestic cricket, where they would regularly play quality slow bowling on wearing surfaces.
Many pitches in India are docile at domestic matches, where if you saw off the new ball you could take a long mid-morning nap at the crease between lunch
