Indian cricket has gone into meltdown.
Their first Test series loss on home soil in 12 years has sparked outrage among fans and former players with some calling for Virat Kohli to retire, Rohit Sharma to step down as captain and spelling doom for their defence of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
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While Australia have won a Test on each of their last two tours of India, and England’s Bazballers claimed a victory earlier this year, New Zealand became the first team since Alistair Cook’s side won 2-1 in 2012 to defeat India twice on their home turf and secure the series.
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Mitch Santner spun the Black Caps to a 113-run triumph in Pune with his left-arm orthodox snaring 13 wickets for the match to create another astonishing tale that will be told across the north and south islands for generations to come.
Santner’s probably will not be retold as often as the Kiwis famously bowled India out for 46 in the first innings in Bengaluru on their way to an eight-wicket win.
Many in India, including all-time Test leading run scorer Sachin Tendulkar, have been gracious in defeat by congratulating and praising Tom Latham’s side.
Before Bengaluru, their last Test victory in India came in 1988 courtesy of Sir Richard Hadlee taking ten wickets for the match.
That record along with the off-field effects of the modern game – like Kane Williamson and others rejecting national contracts to become freelancers and their CEO saying on New Zealand radio that if they listened to the money they would only play T20s at home – meant they were never supposed to win.
But many Indians have been quick to ignore the Black Caps miracle in favour of pointing the finger at their own players.
Former Indian left arm pace bowler Irfan Pathan led a chorus of Indians on social media who are disgruntled with their leaders.
He wrote on X that “senior players need to step up and deliver in the ultimate format of the game. The next three months will be crucial for them”.
Skipper Sharma has mustered only 62 runs in his four innings this series – including a half-century in the second innings in the first Test – while demigod Kohli’s returns have not been much better with 88 runs which included scoring 70 in the second innings in Bengaluru.
Most concerning for the soon to be 36-year-old however is the manner in which he was bowled by Santner in the first innings in Pune.
He swiped across the line at a low full toss, missed it by a long way and was sent on his way for 1.
It was described by former Indian player, now broadcaster, Sanjay Manjrekar as “the worst shot of his career” on X, while commentator and journalist Harsha Bhogle also took to the social media platform saying “that is a replay that Virat will never want to see”.
It was the latest false shot in a recent run in Test cricket which does not make for pretty reading.
Yearly Test averages of 19.33 (2020), 28.21 (2021), 26.50 (2022), 55.91 (2023) and 27.22 (2024) do not reflect Kohli’s quality.
He has only scored two centuries in that time – both came last year – and he showed his frustrations by smashing a drinks cooler with his bat as he walked to the pavilion once dismissed in the second innings for 17 – lbw to Santner – after he had been involved in a run out with Rishabh Pant.
Many fans on social media have since declared that his red-ball career should be done.
One wrote that “he has no motivation left to play cricket”, while others described him as a “walking wicket”.
Kohli has also copped criticism for opting not to play any domestic cricket in the lead-up to the New Zealand series.
Amazingly, Sachin Tendulkar has played a Ranji Trophy game more recently – in 2013 compared to 2012.
Former India head coach Anil Kumble believes it was not the sole reason for his poor showings, but it would have helped.
“Perhaps just one or two innings in a match situation could have helped. Being in an actual game is definitely more beneficial than just practice; it gives an upper hand,” Kumble said.
“If he feels that playing earlier would have benefited him, and the team management agrees, then maybe it would have. However, I don’t think we can look at that as the only reason for his struggles against spin.”
The pressure is also now mounting on new coach Gautam Gambhir.
The former Indian opening batter is only three months into the role – taking over from former teammate Rahul Dravid – but has so far delivered underwhelming results.
In addition to the series loss to New Zealand, India lost an ODI series 2-0 to Sri Lanka in August.
It was the first time since 1997 that India had lost an ODI series to their southern neighbours.
Gambhir was hailed before the three-match series for convincing Sharma and Kohli to play despite the senior batters expressing their desire to rest, but perhaps the younger brigade would have faired better.
Sharma is now 37, while Kohli turns 36 next month, and with their age it has been suggested by managing editor of, and sports presenter for, Hindi news channel Vikrant Gupta that “India were always staring at a ticking ‘time’ bomb”.
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“There will be flickers of brilliance from here on but India’s ageing super stars have shown signs of cracking,” he continued on X.
“Happens with every good side but officially India has entered an era of transition in Test cricket. You can delay but only an ostrich can deny the inevitable.”
With India arriving on Australian shores in the coming months, it will be fascinating to witness how they approach defeating Australia on their home soil for a third straight series.
Their famous victory at the Gabba in January in 2021 was built off the back of the youthful exuberance of an inexperienced team that took the Australians on.
Maybe Gambhir, Sharma and the selectors will need to recall those memories ahead of the first Test at Perth Stadium starting on November 22.
