After India lost their first series against New Zealand at home, former Pakistani batsman Ahmed Shehzad took a harsh stance against them. Notably, New Zealand grabbed an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after defeating India by 113 runs in the second Test at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Consequently, India won 18 straight series, ending their unbroken home Test victory record since 2012. Shehzad claimed that New Zealand had played a practical joke on India by beating them like children after India's defeat. On paper, he also referred to the India Tigers as having collapsed at home.
"New Zealand have come to India and thrashed them as if they had the right to do so, beating them like kids and walking away. They’ve pulled a prank on India. People are now saying, 'Kagaz ke sher, aur ghar mein dher' (Tigers on paper, crumbled at home)," said Shehzad on his Youtube channel.
The former batter went on to say that the team had become complacent and played like schoolboys.
"When India were bowled out for 46 runs (in the first Test), Rohit Sharma had said, 'Everyone has a bad day.' And we accept that. Absolutely fair. But in this Test match too, the way you’ve played cricket, it seems like you’ve become complacent. Rohit Sharma says that they don’t believe in unnecessary talk, but that spirit was missing in the last two Tests. These two matches have been played in a way that makes it seemed like schoolboys were playing," Shehzad added.
India's chances of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final have been significantly diminished following consecutive defeats. As they go ready to play New Zealand in the third Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai starting on Friday, November 1, they will need to win four of their final six games. The hosts will be desperate to turn things around and prevent a whitewash after losing the series once.
