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'Senior Players Need To..,': Irfan Pathan Urges Rohit, Kohli And Senior Players To Step Up After NZ Series Loss

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having a chat [Source: @chinmayshah28/X.com]Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having a chat [Source: @chinmayshah28/X.com]

India faced a tough setback as New Zealand outplayed them with a 113-run victory in the second Test, clinching a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. This was the India’s first Test series loss at home since 2012-13, when England defeated them 1-2. The Kiwis' impressive win in Pune was historic, being their first-ever Test series triumph on Indian soil and making them only the third visiting team to conquer India in a Test series this century.

India's last home series loss came from England, and this time, the lack of batting consistency cost them. Indian batters are well known to handle spinner, however they repeatedly fell to Mitchell Santner, who snared an astounding 13 wickets in the series. Following this defeat, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan encouraged the senior players to take charge. He tweeted, 

“Well done, New Zealand, on winning the series on Indian soil! For Team India, there's a lot to reflect on. Senior players need to step up and deliver in the ultimate format of the game. The next three months will be crucial for them.”

Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli couldn’t find their rhythm, with Santner dismissing them in both innings. Rohit scored a 62 runs at an average of 15.5, while Kohli managed only 88 runs at an average of 22. Despite his experience, Rohit Sharma’s scores in the series were quite disappointing: 2, 52, 0, and 8.

Veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, usually India’s trump cards, failed to make a significant impact. Both claimed only six wickets throughout the series, with averages of 43.5 and 37.5, respectively. With the bat, Jadeja tried his best, scoring 85 runs, while Ashwin just managed 37 runs in the series.

India In Delicate Position In WTC Points Table

India's standing in the World Test Championship points table has become vulnerable, holding a narrow lead over Australia. South Africa and Sri Lanka are in close contention, posing a threat if India loses the upcoming Test in Mumbai.