Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar expressed his disappointment over India's recent 3-0 home Test series sweep against New Zealand, calling it a 'tough pill to swallow'. Tendulkar questioned the team's performance and urged them to introspect.
However, he acknowledged the positive contributions of Shubman Gill, who scored a 90-run knock in the first innings, and Rishabh Pant, who impressed with two half-centuries in challenging conditions. This series defeat marked a significant setback for India, as it was their first home Test series loss in 12 years.
"Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection. Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection, or was it lack of match practice? Shubman Gill showed resilience in the first innings, and Rishabh Pant was brilliant in both innings- his footwork made a challenging surface look like a different one altogether. He was simply superb," Tendulkar wrote on X.
New Zealand's 3-0 series whitewash over India marked a historic moment in cricket. This achievement elevated New Zealand to an elite group of teams, including England, Australia, and West Indies, who have successfully whitewashed India in a Test series of three or more matches. Tendulkar also heaped praise on New Zealand for the consistent performance throughout the series
"Full credit to New Zealand for their consistent performance throughout the series. Winning 3-0 in India is as good a result as it can get," he added.
New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, achieved a historic 3-0 series whitewash over India at the Wankhede Stadium. This marked the first time India had been whitewashed in a home Test series of three or more matches. New Zealand joined an elite group of teams, including England, Australia, and West Indies, who have achieved this feat against India. This was also the first instance of New Zealand winning three consecutive Tests in a series, both home and away.
India faced a challenging target of 147 runs on a spin-friendly pitch. The team suffered a disastrous start, losing half their side within the first eight overs, leaving them at 29/5. Rishabh Pant attempted to revive the innings with a counter-attacking knock of 64 runs. However, a controversial dismissal ended his innings, and Ajaz Patel's impressive six-wicket haul ultimately sealed India's fate, as they were bowled out for 121 runs.
