Mumbai: Rohit Sharma had tried to play down India’s series loss after New Zealand had taken an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the second Test at Pune, saying that the team can have two bad matches after winning 18 consecutive series at home. But after Sunday’s abysmal 25-run defeat in the final Test at Wankhede Stadium here, the captain had nowhere to hide. At least he didn’t try to put the blame for the shameful 3-0 Test series whitewash – India’s first ever at home – on others.
Owning responsibility, Rohit admitted that he was “not at my best” both as captain and batter, and that the team made “lots of mistakes.” Chasing 147 to salvage a face-saving win on a turning pitch, India’s batting capitulated in spectacular fashion to be all out for 121 in less than 30 overs. Except for Rishabh Pant’s belligerent counter-punching knock of 64 (57 balls, 9×4, 1×6), no other batter could come to grips with the spin of Ajaz Patel (6/57, 11 in the match) and Glenn Phillips (3/42).
“Definitely, something like this will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home. And, yes, I fully take the responsibility for that as captain and as a leader as well. I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series.
And yeah, with the bat as well, I’ve not been good enough,” Rohit owned up at the post-match press conference. After Ravindra Jadeja claimed the final wicket of New Zealand’s second innings in the third over of Day 3 t.
