Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan was shocked after the Rohit Sharma-led team’s whitewash defeat against New Zealand in the recently concluded home Test series. Atul Wassan said he never imagined such a defeat even in his wildest nightmares, describing it as a “collective brain fade” and “harakiri.”
The Men in Blue suffered a 25-run defeat in the third and final match at the Wankhede Stadium on November 3. Team India was whitewashed for the first time in a home Test series (three or more matches). It is worth mentioning that the Tom Latham-led team achieved victory in three days in Mumbai.
This is shocking – Atul Wassan
Speaking to ANI after the loss, Atul Wassan said that the Indian team used to face whitewashes on challenging overseas tours such as Australia and the West Indies. However, Wassan said he never imagined such a setback could happen at home, saying it was beyond even his “craziest nightmares.”
“When we used to go to Australia and the West Indies, it used to happen. But this is shocking. I would never have dreamed of this even in my wildest nightmares,” Wassan told ANI.
#LOOK | On New Zealand’s three-match series thrashing of India 3-0, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan says: “This is shocking. Never in my worst nightmare would I have dreamed of this. I never thought this would happen.. .The New Zealand team just lost in Sri Lanka… pic.twitter.com/vQcP55wo6w
— AIN (@ANI) November 3, 2024
After that we faced some misconceptions – Atul Wassan
Atul Wassan said India became too confident after their victory in just one and a half days against Bangladesh in Kanpur. He said India had underestimated New Zealand and added that India should learn from this series loss.
“Because two series ago we started talking about Australia. In cricket, when you start crossing the bridge before you get to it, it bites you. This New Zealand team had just lost in Sri Lanka (2-0). This time “They didn’t have Kane Williamson.”
“But despite this, their spinners were better than us and their batsmen applied themselves to these strange conditions despite having grown up playing on squalid green wickets. India should learn from this. Complacency, overconfidence (the reason ).When we won that Test against Bangladesh in a day and a half, we faced some misconceptions after that,” Wassan said.
There needs to be some introspection – Atul Wassan
The 56-year-old warned that India may have to forget about winning another series in Australia. Wassan said the responsibility for the loss lies with the entire management team, including the coaches, captain and senior players. He added that Indian spinners were outclassed by New Zealand spinners.
“This must be a collective responsibility of the leadership group and the team management, starting with the coach, the captain and the seniors. You cannot blame the youngsters and the bowlers. If we still lose despite Ashwin and “Jadeja and his spinners outclass us, some introspection is needed. Beat Australia in Australia, forget it, Australia are solid at the moment but here you are overconfident,” he added.
Chasing a target of 147 runs, India lost five wickets in just 29 runs. Rishabh Pant scored 64 runs off 57 balls, including nine fours and a six. However, India were bowled out for 121 runs after Pant’s dismissal.
Ajaz Patel was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, taking six wickets for 57 runs. Glenn Phillips took three wickets for 42 runs. New Zealand earlier claimed victories in Bengaluru and Pune against India.
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