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Published 12:32 IST, October 28th 2024

'Forgotten How To Plan Spin': Ex-India Player's Scathing Attack On Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma

The IND vs NZ has been a horror show for Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir's Team India so far. New Zealand have now won the Test series with a 2-0 lead.

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli | Image: PTI

IND vs NZ Test Series: India succumbed to New Zealand in their own backyard in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. With one Test match still left in the series, the Kiwis have taken an unassailable lead of 2-0, which has resulted to their first Test series win in India. This series loss against New Zealand has also dented India's hopes of playing the World Test Championship (WTC) final and they have a herculean task ahead of them.

Former India International Calls Out Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

More than India's series defeat at home, their first in 12 years, it was their inability to play spin that has been called out. India, have always been a country that has earned its reputation as a good spin bowling playing country, but right now, things look pretty dismal. They were already outplayed in Bengaluru, in the first Test match, on a track that was seaming under grey skies. India were bundled out for 46 in the first innings and that led to their downfall.

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Come to Pune, India tried to trap the Kiwis on a wicket that had plenty for the spinners, but their plan backfired. The Pune wicket exposed the inability of India's top stars to play spin bowling. Many have also criticized India's senior pros such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for how they ignored the Duleep Trophy and did not prepare well enough for red ball cricket. Now former India player Sunil Joshi has called out both Rohit and Virat, the Indian top order over their glaring technical flaws.

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'If our spinners can win us Test matches at home, our batters too should be able to play spin. We've pretty much forgotten how to plan spin. Will we see our top-order batsmen go back and play domestic cricket? You won't be able to play spinners, if you don't play domestic cricket. Back in the day, every big player would go back to domestic cricket, play a few matches and then go for Test cricket. Why can't our top-order players do that?' said Joshi, while speaking to star sports.

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Before the star of the IND vs NZ Test series, India required only three wins from their seven games, but the ongoing Test series against the Kiwis has completely turned the scenario on its heads. After enduring a 2-0 series loss against Tom Latham's New Zealand, India will have to win 4 out of their remaining six Test matches which makes the next Test match in Mumbai a complete must-win match for India.

Updated 14:43 IST, October 28th 2024