First time in 91 years: Bungling India whitewashed 0-3 at home

Mumbai, Nov 3: The fortress had been breached already. On Sunday, it just crumbled to the ground with the Indian dressing room sitting stone-faced, trying to process a fall so spectacular that nobody saw it coming.

For the first time in their Test history, which goes back to 1933, the ‘Tigers’ at home had been whitewashed in a series of three or more games.

The humiliation was inflicted by New Zealand, a side that landed here after being thrashed 0-2 by a Sri Lankan team that is in transition. The Black Caps were also without their biggest batting star Kane Williamson, thanks to injury.

Yet, it was a full-strength India that looked confused and short of preparation throughout a rubber they were expected to win and win comfortably at that.

The 25-run loss in the third Test in front of a buzzing Wankhede crowd, that just a few months ago feted a T20 world champion Indian side, was a stunning reminder of how fortunes swing wildly in sport.

Having already conceded the series 0-2, the Indians should have been able to pull one back. It wasn’t an unfair expectation, the chase was a mere 147 runs but it was on a track that looked like a minefield to the entire home line-up except Rishabh Pant (64).

On Sunday, all Pant needed or wanted was for someone to hang in there. Nobody seemed capable.

From Virat Kohli to skipper Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill to Sarfaraz Khan, none looked to have learnt their lessons.

Five key wickets were lost for a mere 16 runs at the start of an embarrassing collapse with the Jogeshwari’s very own Ajaz Patel making them dance to his tunes for a haul of 11 wickets in the match.

The left-arm wpinner now has a staggering 25 Test wickets at the Wankhede in just two matches, making him the most successful overseas bowler at the venue after the great Ian Botham (22).

“Something like this will be a very low point of my career and I take full responsibility for it. With the bat, I was not good enough,” a desolate Rohit admitted in the post-match press conference struggling to explain clearly just what has gone so wrong with this team.

Coach Gautam Gambhir, who has remained bullish up until now, will certainly have a few questions to answer going forward if the tide does not turn dramatically in Australia, starting November 22.

With this truly humbling result, the Indians were thrown off the top position in the World Test Championship points table. A spot in the final next summer, which once seemed quite certain, will now have to be fought for and that too quite vigorously.

It is the first time that an Indian team has been whitewashed in a three-match series. The last time India suffered a humiliation of this scale was more than two decades ago in 2000 when it lost 0-2 to South Africa.

Interestingly, a World Cup-winning stalwart in Kapil Dev was in charge of the team as head coach even at that time. That result had ended the great Sachin Tendulkar’s run as captain of the team and Kapil’s tenure as coach.

What happens after the current loss will be eagerly watched. (PTI)

Hot this week

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

The Baghmara connection to Meghalaya’s political history

Tura, Aug 17: For many in the state, Baghmara...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Road safety awareness campaign launched in city

Shillong, Jan 18: As part of National Road Safety...

Manipur NPP chief N Kayisii passes away

Shillong/Imphal, Jan 18: Former Manipur minister and National People's...

Decomposed body of unidentified man recovered in North Garo Hills

Tura, Jan 18: North Garo Hills police have recovered...

Record 10,000+ Asian water birds spotted in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary during annual census

Guwahati, Jan 18: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has witnessed a...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img