Spin curse struck India

With a string of defeats on their soil, the Indian cricketing landscape is now bracing for an inevitable period of reflection, and none other than the ‘Master Blaster' himself, Sachin Tendulkar, has been quick to suggest that it may indeed be time for India to have a little ‘introspection'. But let's face it, introspection is easier said than done when you have just suffered one of the most humiliating losses in recent memory. And if you thought the Indian batting line-up was impervious to pressure, think again. It is safe to say that India's inability to combat spin, particularly against New Zealand, has raised some serious questions about their readiness for the big challenges ahead.

Let's take a step back and understand just how it all unfolded. In the opening Test in Bengaluru, the first innings was played under overcast conditions, which allowed New Zealand pacers to make a dent. However, once the conditions became more spin-friendly, the New Zealand spinners - Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Glenn Phillips - turned the screws and exposed India's weak spots. The conditions were tailor-made for spinners, and yet the Indian batsmen seemed to struggle in a way that could only be described as astonishing.

It is almost as though the Indian batsmen, with all their technical brilliance and fancy records, forgot how to play a basic ball that turns. The series, which was meant to showcase India's dominance on home turf, instead became a lesson in how not to play spin bowling. New Zealand, whose own players are often more accustomed to battling against their own pacers, suddenly found themselves the masters of the spin game. They consistently outfoxed the Indian batters, who looked out of sorts as they were bundled out on spinning wickets.

The reality check was harsh, as India's batting average against spinners dropped to alarming levels. Before this embarrassing setback, India had been going along just fine in the early months of the year. The five-match Test series against England, which India won 4-1 under the stewardship of Rahul Dravid, seemed to suggest that they were on top of their game. During that series, India's batting average against spinners had been a relatively healthy 39.9. Of course, not all was perfect, but the numbers were far more respectable than they are now.

Shoaib Bashir, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, and Joe Root were all part of the English spin attack, and while their efforts were commendable, they only managed to take 60 wickets across five matches. Yet somehow, the Indian batting unit seemed to cope.

Fast forward to 2024, and the situation has changed dramatically. In a series where India had everything going for them - the pitch conditions, home crowd, and an opponent with limited spin experience - they were thoroughly outplayed by New Zealand's slow bowlers. In three Tests, India's batsmen lost 37 wickets to the Kiwi spinners, and their batting average against spin plummeted to a staggering 24.4. In simple terms, India's batters made an absolute mess of what should have been a straightforward contest.

This whitewash is more than just a poor series result; it has massive implications for India's standing in the World Test Championship (WTC). Once sitting pretty at the top of the WTC standings, India's dramatic collapse against New Zealand has sent them tumbling down to second place. Their point percentage has now dipped to a perilous 58.33%, and Australia, who have had their own fair share of challenges, have snatched the top spot with a more comfortable point percentage of 62.50%. India now face the grim reality that they need to win four out of five matches in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against Australia to keep their hopes of reaching the WTC final alive.

Let's pause here and savour that particular statistic: India must win four matches in a five-match series. There is no room for error, and every match now carries the weight of an entire season's worth of cricket. A single loss or draw could be enough to dash their WTC aspirations. The pressure on Rohit Sharma and his team will be immense, but that's what they signed up for. As the BGT series approaches, all eyes will be on whether India can bounce back or whether their batting woes will continue to haunt them.

And let's not forget that New Zealand, despite their triumph, is no powerhouse in the subcontinent. They have traditionally struggled on Indian pitches, but this series proved that even under the toughest of conditions, a little bit of spin can send the mighty Indian batsmen into a tailspin. The victory, while historic, wasn't exactly a monumental achievement for New Zealand. The real story here is about India's inability to adapt - a team that has been touted as one of the finest in the world now finds itself at a crossroads.

This debacle also raises further questions about India's so-called ‘home advantage'. Sure, they can boast about winning series on spinning wickets, but it seems that when the conditions demand more than just raw power and technique, they are left wanting. There's an old cricketing adage that says, ‘A good team is one that adapts to any conditions'. Well, if that is the measure, India have a long way to go in proving that they can be truly adaptable.

One would expect that after such a disastrous series, introspection would indeed be on the agenda. But let's be real - this is Indian cricket, where analysis often stops at the surface level, and solutions are not always as forthcoming as they should be. The team has plenty of talent, but what they seem to lack right now is a clear strategy for tackling adversity. Is it a lack of preparation against quality spin? Or is it a deeper problem with technique under pressure? These are the tough questions that need answering.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's personal views, and do not represent the views of Mid-Day.