Worst batting display at home in Tests by India? Sunil Gavaskar feels so

Sunil Gavaskar felt that this was one of India's worst batting displays at home in Test cricket. India suffered a 0-3 clean-sweep against New Zealand at home.

In Short

• India suffered a 0-3 clean sweep against New Zealand at home
• India failed to chase down 147 runs in 4th innings at Wankhede
• The Rohit Sharma-led side bundled out for paltry total of 46 in 1st Test

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar addressed whether India’s recent batting performance against New Zealand could be considered their worst on home soil. Gavaskar felt that India, who had overcome a low point of 46 all-out in Bengaluru, seemed unprepared for the challenges in Pune and Mumbai. The result was a historic 3-0 series defeat on home soil, a first for India, marking their first Test series loss at home in 12 years. India struggled in the final Test, failing to chase down a modest target of 147 runs at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and losing by 25 runs.

"You could say that," Gavaskar remarked, while answering exclusively to India Today, if this was India’s poorest batting display. "When you look back, there have been similar instances where India’s batting has collapsed, even when chasing relatively small totals. But the way they responded in the second innings in Bengaluru, scoring over 400 runs, suggested they’d moved past that initial setback of 46 all-out. That’s why the subsequent four innings—in Pune and Mumbai—leave you wondering what went wrong."

What went wrong with India's batting?

The three-match series started with India’s stunning 46 all-out in the first innings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, marking their lowest home score and the second-lowest total in Tests after the infamous 36 all-out in Adelaide against Australia. In their second innings, India showed resilience, scoring 462, with Sarfaraz Khan scoring 150 and Rishabh Pant contributing a gritty 99. Despite the fightback, India ultimately lost the match by eight wickets.

The Pune Test continued India’s batting woes, as they posted scores of 156 and 245 in two innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 77 and a late contribution from Ravindra Jadeja were the only bright spots in an otherwise disappointing batting display.

"NZ spinners shouldn't be wrapping India so easily"

Gavaskar noted that India shouldn’t have struggled so much against New Zealand’s decent but relatively modest spin attack, which included Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner. "Yes, the New Zealand bowlers did well, often making early breakthroughs with the new ball before the spinners took over," he said. "But with the greatest respect to Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips, they aren’t bowlers who should be wrapping up this Indian batting lineup as easily as they did in those four innings."

The Wankhede Test saw India bundling out for 121 runs with only Rishabh Pant showcasing some resistance. This was only the 4th instance of India failing to chase down a total of under 200 in Tests.