Skipper Rohit Sharma showed his full support for Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s effort after India lost the second Test match against New Zealand and pointed out that too much is expected from the two all-rounders. The New Zealand team under the leadership of Tom Latham created history by beating Rohit’s team by 113 runs in the second Test match played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday, recording their first series win ever in India. Besides, this defeat was the first Test match series loss at home for India since 2012 bringing 18 consecutive home series wins, the longest for any team’s cricket history
At present, New Zealand is leading the three-test match series by two – zero with the third scheduled to take place on Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 1.
During the press conference, Rohit mentioned that in every match Ashwin and Jadeja were expected to take some wickets. Moreover he added that it is not just two players who caused the loss of the match; all the team members are to blame.
“They are overburdened with expectations. Each and every game they play, they are required to pick up wickets, destroy the batting line up and win the Test for us. I find it unreasonable. It is all our duty to ensure that we win the Tests, it is not just two of them. Of course, they are aware of their level, where they have not been able to fulfill what is needed and what they have done very well,” Rohit said
The captain of India added that both Ashwin and Jadeja can have a bad day once in a while
Well, I wouldn’t delve too deep into it, particularly not with those two players. When such players are present, they understand what occurs and even at times just have bad games here and there. They don’t have to succumb to the pressure that ‘alright, this is my time to take wickets and clear the batsmen out’. That cannot be every time,” he added.
Next, both Ashwin and Jadeja went on to have rather unimpressive outings in the Test match played in Pune. While Ashwin took five wickets and managed to score 22 runs with the bat, Jadeja claimed three wickets and scored 80 runs during the second Test match against the Kiwis.
In the match played, New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first. After a wait in the wings Devon Conway (76 off 141 balls, 11 boundaries) and Rachin Ravindra’s (65 off 105, 5’s and a 6) half centuries helped put the team in a strong position at 197/3 with only Ashwin of any bowler troubling the batsmen with figures of 3/41. After Conway went out, Washington Sundar (7/59) capitalized on the positive change in momentum, taking out the rest of the batters and skittling New Zealand for 259
Such a total inferiority complex for the Indian side was an opportunity for them to forge even deeper ahead. Unfortunately, after Rohit Sharma went out first ball, others like Shubman Gill (30 off 72 balls, 2 fours and a six) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30 off 60 balls, 4 boundaries) managed to put up only a 49 run stand. As it was in the first innings, Gill’s dismissal allowed Mitchell Santner to come into the game and turn the tables on India. Santner (7/53) and Glenn Phillips (2/26) bowled India out cheaply for only 156 runs, with Ravindra Jadeja the top scorer with 38 runs off 46 balls that included three fours and two sixes.
New Zealand extended their lead afterirst innings by 103 runs. With an important contribution from captain Tom Latham, who scored 86 runs (133 balls, 10 fours), Phillips (48 runs from 82 balls, four boundaries and two sixes) and Tom Blundell (41 runs off 83 balls, three fours) brought the target for India, 359 runs after their impressive batting innings on 3rd day, they were bowled out for 255.
Sundar (4/56) was the most successful bowler, while Jadeja (3/72) and Ashwin (2/97) cleaned up the lower-middle order and the tail.
Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed early in the innings, putting India under pressure as they were chasing 359 runs. However, India had a good start courtesy of their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal who partnered up with Shubman Gill to make a 62 run stand, while 23 worked off 31 balls with 4 fours. Once again, a good start failed to be converted as Jaiswal was dismissed for a brilliant 77 off 65 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes) and the rest fell to the Kiwi spinners, as India was bowled out for 245 runs, losing the match by 113 runs. This defeat also meant that India lost a home series after 12 years.
The most impressive player was undoubtedly Santner who, in addition to 6 in the first innings, took 7 wickets for 104 runs in the second innings of play, finished with 13 wickets in the match. He dominated the match as the stars of the show were Phillips and Ajaz Patel who helped finish the Test match within two days.
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