India Faces First Home Series Loss in 12 Years Against New Zealand
In a surprising turn of events, Team India suffered a significant defeat against New Zealand in the second Test match held in Pune. This loss marked India’s first home series defeat in 12 years. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his disappointment with India’s batting performance, particularly against the Kiwi spin attack led by Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in the match.
Key Moments of the Match
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scoring half-centuries to set a strong foundation. Despite Ravichandran Ashwin’s efforts, New Zealand posted a total of 259 runs. India’s response was lackluster, with Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips dismantling the Indian batting lineup, restricting them to 156 runs.
In their second innings, New Zealand extended their lead to 358 runs, thanks to contributions from Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, and Tom Blundell. Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ashwin tried to contain the Kiwis but couldn’t prevent a substantial lead.
India’s Struggle Against Spin
Chasing 359, India started well with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill forming a 62-run partnership. However, after Jaiswal’s dismissal, the Indian team faltered against the Kiwi spinners, eventually being bowled out for 245 runs. Manjrekar highlighted the struggles of Indian batsmen like Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli against spin, suggesting a lack of confidence and misjudgment of deliveries.
Conclusion
Mitchell Santner’s exceptional performance, taking 13 wickets, was pivotal in New Zealand’s victory, securing a 2-0 series win with one match remaining. This defeat has raised concerns about India’s ability to handle spin, especially on home pitches.
Doubts Revealed
Home Series Loss -: A ‘home series loss’ means that the Indian cricket team lost a series of matches that were played in India. This is significant because teams usually perform better in their own country.
12 Years -: The mention of ’12 years’ highlights that it has been a long time since India last lost a series at home. This makes the loss against New Zealand a big deal.
New Zealand -: New Zealand is a country in the southern hemisphere known for its strong cricket team. They played against India and won the series.
Test -: A ‘Test’ is a type of cricket match that is played over five days. It is considered the longest and most traditional format of the game.
Sanjay Manjrekar -: Sanjay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer who now works as a commentator and analyst. He shared his opinion on why India lost the series.
Mitchell Santner -: Mitchell Santner is a cricketer from New Zealand who is known for his bowling skills. He played a crucial role in New Zealand’s victory by taking many wickets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal -: Yashasvi Jaiswal is a young Indian cricketer who is known for his batting. He started well in the match but couldn’t help India win.
Shubman Gill -: Shubman Gill is another Indian cricketer who is known for his batting talent. He also started well but India still lost the match.
113 Runs -: Losing by ‘113 runs’ means that when India’s team was all out, they had scored 113 runs less than New Zealand. This shows the margin by which India lost the match.
2-0 Series Lead -: A ‘2-0 series lead’ means that New Zealand won two matches in the series, while India won none. This indicates New Zealand’s dominance in the series.