Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced criticism on Monday as India grappled with a 3-0 Test series defeat at home to New Zealand, with critics labeling the team as aging and lacking confidence.
The cricket powerhouse suffered a 25-run loss on Sunday in the third Test in Mumbai, marking only their second home series whitewash in history.
This victory marked New Zealand’s historic first-ever Test series win on Indian soil.
India has little time to regroup, as they will head to Australia for a five-match Test series starting on November 22.
“Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow and requires serious introspection,” former captain Sachin Tendulkar wrote on social media. “Was it a lack of preparation, poor shot selection, or insufficient match practice?”
Going into the series against the Black Caps, India was ranked second in the ICC Test rankings, trailing only Australia, and was considered the clear favorite.
However, repeated batting collapses, including being bowled out for just 46 in their first innings of the opening Test, raised alarm bells.
Things did not improve significantly from that point onward.
“I accept that we were not good enough with the bat throughout the series,” said captain Rohit.
The series highlighted the Indian batsmen’s surprising struggle to handle spinners on turning pitches in their own backyard.
Mitchell Santner claimed 13 wickets in the second match, while Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz Patel took 11 in the third Test, which ultimately condemned India.
With Australia on the horizon, the form of 37-year-old Rohit and 35-year-old superstar batsman Kohli is a particular concern for Indian cricket fans.
Rohit scored just 91 runs across three matches, while Kohli managed only 93.
“The harsh reality is that this team is now in transition, with key players aging, out of form, and lacking confidence,” wrote the Times of India.
“Two of their mainstays, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, appear to be in a downward spiral with their batting, yet they seem oddly reluctant to acknowledge it and make necessary adjustments, such as honing their skills through domestic cricket,” it continued.
Indian media reported that all senior players, including Rohit and Kohli, were advised to participate in the domestic Duleep Trophy four-day matches, but they declined due to a “lack of motivation.”
“They certainly should have had some practice,” former India captain Sunil Gavaskar told the Indian Express. “I know we beat Bangladesh, which made it seem like a walk in the park against New Zealand,” he added.
“But New Zealand clearly had the superior attack, featuring players who have experience playing in India and in the IPL, giving them an understanding of how Indian pitches behave.”
Rohit and Kohli retired from T20 cricket following the team’s World Cup victory in June.
Critics noted that spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, 38, and Ravindra Jadeja, 35, also appear to be showing signs of age.
