India vs New Zealand – talking points: Rohit, Kohli, Ravindra, Patel, Gill
- India faced a historic defeat by losing all three matches of a home Test series against New Zealand.
- Key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli underperformed, accumulating low run totals throughout the series.
- This series marks only the second time India has been whitewashed in a Test series at home, raising questions about the team's future performance.
In November 2024, India suffered a major setback in cricket, being whitewashed 3-0 in a home Test series against New Zealand. This defeat is particularly notable as it marks the first time in 90 years that India lost all matches in a home series, stirring up concerns about their standing in modern cricket. The series highlighted the inconsistency of India's batting line-up, with captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli both failing to perform under pressure. Sharma's total of just 91 runs and Kohli's mere 93 runs underscore this issue significantly. Despite India having their spinners claim all 20 New Zealand wickets in the opener and also in the final Test, the lack of support from the batting side proved detrimental. New Zealand's adaptation and stellar performance with slower bowling were key to their success. Ajaz Patel, born in Mumbai, was pivotal in dismantling the Indian batting order, also significantly contributing to New Zealand's historic win by claiming the final wicket in the series. The series concluded with the Indian team left to reflect on their underwhelming performance, questioning individual and team-level accountability. Meanwhile, this victory elevates New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who achieved what no other New Zealand captain had before—leading his team to win a Test series in India. The implications of this series may reverberate for the Indian team as they regroup and refocus on the challenges ahead.