'This is embarrassing': How The Cricket World Reacted To Team India's Shocking Loss to New Zealand

dreful defeat against New Zealand has jolted Indian cricketing fraternity and several stalwarts of game have heard echoes of it. likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh called for "introspection", urged team management to stop "needless experimentation" in Test format and start playing on better pitches. India faced a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at home for first time ever after suffering a 25-run defeat in third Test against a New Zealand side that arrived here on back of a 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka.

Also Re | NZ Captain Tom Latham On Cloud 9 After Historic Test Series Win Over IND

How Former Cricketers Reacted To Team India's Loss To New Zealand

"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?" Tendulkar posted on X.

Set a target of 147 on a crumbling Wankhede pitch, India lasted just 29.1 overs to be bowled out for 121, making it lowest target to be successfully defended against m at home.

Rishabh Pant (64), who struck fifties in both innings, was only batter to show some fight, while Shubman Gill (90) was top-scorer in India's first innings.

"@ShubmanGill showed resilience in first innings, and @RishabhPant17 was brilliant in both innings -- his footwork me a challenging surface look like a different one altoger. He was simply superb," Tendulkar noted.

Terming it a terrible show by Rohit Sharma 's team, former India opener Sehwag wrote on Instagram: "While as supporters it's imperative to support team but this has been a terrible performance from our team.

" skill to play spin certainly needs an upgre and certain experimentations are good for shorter format but in Test cricket doing some needless experimentations just for sake of it was indeed poor.
"Congratulations to Tom Latham and his @blackcapsnz boys on doing what is a dream for every visiting team and no or could conquer in this way." crushing blow not only toppled India from top of World Test Championship standings but also exposed severe cracks in ir batting against spin as New Zealand tweakers grabbed 37 out of 57 Indian wickets.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santer with 13 wickets was wrecker-in-chief in second Test in Pune, and in his absence in Mumbai following a side strain, Ajaz Patel led charge with an extraordinary 11-wicket match haul.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said on se kind of pitches "anyone can get anyone out" and teams don't need legends like Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, or Saqlain Mushtaq to take wickets.

"Turning pitches becoming ur own enemy #INDvsNZTEST Congratulations NZ you outplayed us. Been saying from many years. Team India needs to play on better pitches. se turning pitches making every batsman look very ordinary," Harbhajan wrote on X.

"Earlier generations batsmen never played on se kind of tracks. se tracks are prepared for 2/3 day Test matches. You don't need Murli, Warne or Saqi on se pitches to get teams out. Anyone can get anyone out." Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted lack of red-ball cricket for senior India batters as one of reasons for debacle.

"This is embarrassing display by team India at home. Lot to ponder over by decision makers. Well done New Zealand on such a terrific performance.

"H a solid conversation with @iamyusufpathan bhai yesterday. He me a valid point about domestic cricket – we're eir playing on grassy pitches or flat tracks, but rarely on turning surfaces anymore. Plus, top players aren't playing domestic cricket. This could hurt us in long run." 

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar ded, "And with that we come to end of a long phase of rank turners in India." Reactions also came from overseas with former England captain Michael Vaughan saying Indian batters now struggle like most teams against spin.

"To win in India is incredible but to deliver a clean sweep is remarkable... has to be greatest ever Test series victory. India now have a group of batters that struggle like most teams against spin...," Vaughan wrote.

Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop posted: "Amazing from New Zealand. A population of less than 6 million. No Kane Williamson . y have conquered an unenviable task, and both men's and women's teams have h an historic and proud few weeks." win was doubly special for New Zealand who h landed on Indian shores after suffering a 0-2 whitewash in Sri Lanka.

"A once in a lifetime kind of win for New Zealand! From being whitewashed in Sri Lanka to whitewashing India, just WOW. What a turnaround by Kiwis! A historic moment in New Zealand cricket history!" former Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga wrote.

Former New Zealand left-arm pacer Mitchell McClenaghan wrote: "Arguably @BLACKCAPS best win of all time. Unbelievable." "Great series win for New Zealand, incredible performance! India will go to Australia with a massive point to prove!" pointed out former coach Mickey Arthur. 

(With inputs from PTI)