'Lost Confidence!': Harbhajan Criticizes India's Use of Rank Turners, Cites IMPACTED Ajinkya Rahane

New Zealand won a dramatic Test match against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium from October 24 to 26 by 113 runs. Claiming numbers of 7/53 and 6/104, Mitchell Santner was outstanding and won Player of the Match. In their first innings, New Zealand scored 259; Devon Conway top-scoring with 76; India responded with 156. New Zealand scored 255 spearheaded by Tom Latham's 86 in their second innings, therefore establishing India a goal of 339. India lost even with Yashasvi Jaiswal's courageous 77; bowled out for 245 with Santner getting 6/104. New Zealand leads the series 2-0 presently after this victory.

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Harbhajan Singh made a huge statement on India’s struggles with Turner after 2 losses to New Zealand

Citing the effects it had on Ajinkya Rahane's career, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has voiced reservations over Team India's choice to play on turning courses at home in recent years. Bengaluru, India achieved its request for a spin-friendly surface in the second Test in Pune after an unexpected defeat in the first Test against New Zealand, which had a seam-friendly pitch.

The Indian batting line suffered, scoring only 156 and 245 in their two innings, which resulted in a 113-run loss. Since the 2012–13 season, this was India's first home test series defeat.

Harbhajan offered his opinions on the topic in an interview with PTI after the second Test:

"Look at the trend over the last decade. We are playing mostly on turners with the hope that we will win the toss, score 300, and control the game. But we don't know if we have the batting to wriggle out on turners. Our batters have lost a lot of confidence playing on these tracks. The biggest example is Ajinkya Rahane, a fine player. His career suffered because of these kinds of surfaces."

“If you have had a great record at home for so long and if you lose, obviously there will be chatter. Credit to New Zealand for playing the way they did; these were alien conditions and also not a pitch where wear and tear was natural. It was a tailor-made condition for spinners where the ball was supposed to turn from the first hour,”

India's top order has seen considerable difficulties on spin-friendly surfaces at home over the previous two to three years, often depending on the lower order to extricate them from challenging circumstances.

Regrettably, their fortune diminished in the face of a well-structured and disciplined New Zealand squad. India will now be seen in action against New Zealand in the 3rd and final Test on November 1, 2024. They have already lost the series, 2-0. Losing the first Test in Bengaluru by 8 wickets and then continuing the poor show in Pune.