Over the past decade, India’s dominance in home Test matches was nearly untouchable. Between 2013 and 2022, the team played 42 home Tests, suffering only two losses – a clear indicator of their formidable strength in familiar conditions. However, 2024 has brought an unsettling change for the Men in Blue, as they faced two significant defeats in the opening matches of the year. This abrupt downturn signals a concerning shift from India’s once impenetrable fortress on home soil.

A decline under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy

India’s home Test record has taken a noticeable dip since 2023, with three defeats in just 12 matches – a worrying contrast to their prior dominance. All of these losses have occurred under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, drawing attention to a growing problem for the team. The most recent of these setbacks came in the first Test of the 2024 series against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. New Zealand’s eight-wicket victory marked their first win in India since 1988, dominating a rain-affected match and exposing India’s vulnerabilities.

New Zealand’s landmark win and India’s struggles

New Zealand’s triumph in Bengaluru was historic, breaking a 36-year streak without a Test win on Indian soil. For India, the defeat was a humbling blow, especially after being bowled out for a mere 46 runs in the first innings. Despite efforts to mount a recovery, India failed to regain control, underscoring key weaknesses in both their batting and decision-making.

This defeat stands as one of the most surprising in recent memory for India at home, serving as a stark reminder that their once formidable dominance in subcontinental conditions is no longer guaranteed. Traditionally confident on spin-friendly pitches, India found themselves playing catch-up throughout the match, overwhelmed by a resilient New Zealand side.

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5 tactical errors by Rohit Sharma against New Zealand in Bengaluru Test: 

While the loss can be attributed to various factors, much of the blame has been directed toward Rohit’s captaincy decisions. In particular, five key errors hurt India in the match:

1. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss

Rohit’s decision to bat first after winning the toss was the first major tactical error. In conditions that seemed to offer early assistance to bowlers, especially with some moisture and bounce on the pitch, opting to bat allowed New Zealand’s bowlers to dominate. A more cautious approach, such as electing to bowl first and utilizing the favorable bowling conditions, could have restricted New Zealand to a lower score. By choosing to bat first, Rohit handed the advantage to the opposition early in the game.

2. Not including Akash Deep in the playing XI

A major selection blunder was leaving Akash Deep out of the playing XI. Given the conditions, which seemed to favor seamers, Akash Deep’s ability to extract swing and bounce could have been a game-changer. His omission deprived India of an extra attacking option, especially when breakthroughs were hard to come by. Rohit’s decision not to include him reflected a conservative approach, and it backfired when India’s existing bowling unit struggled to consistently trouble New Zealand’s middle and lower order.

3. Allowing Tim Southee and Rachin Ravindra to build a 137-run partnership

India had New Zealand on the back foot at 233/7, but Rohit’s inability to manage his bowling resources and field placements during the Tim Southee–Rachin Ravindra partnership allowed New Zealand to recover. The pair added 137 crucial runs for the ninth wicket, shifting the momentum entirely and took the lead over 300. Rohit missed the chance to bring in more aggressive tactics, such as setting tighter fields or rotating his bowlers more effectively to dislodge the tailenders. This partnership was the turning point, and India’s failure to wrap up the tail exposed Rohit’s lack of urgency in capitalizing on the situation.

4. Delaying Ravichandran Ashwin’s involvement on Day 5

Perhaps the most glaring tactical error was Rohit’s delay in bringing Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack on the final day. Despite the pitch showing signs of wear and the potential for turn, Ashwin was only given the ball towards the end of the day when the match was already slipping away. Ashwin, being India’s most experienced and skilled spinner, should have been introduced much earlier to break partnerships and exert pressure on New Zealand’s batters. Rohit’s reluctance to use Ashwin earlier wasted a valuable opportunity to change the course of the match.

5. Passive field placements and lack of proactive decisions

Throughout the match, Rohit’s field placements were often too defensive, which allowed New Zealand’s batters to rotate the strike and build partnerships without much difficulty. Instead of attacking fields that could have led to wickets, Rohit often set fields that seemed designed to contain runs rather than force mistakes. Additionally, his body language, and that of the team, appeared subdued and reactive, signaling a lack of urgency. In critical moments, Rohit missed the chance to take proactive decisions, such as positioning fielders in catching areas or making timely bowling changes, which ultimately cost India the match.

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