Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharmaexpressed his disappointment and took responsibility for the team’s poor performance after choosing to bat first against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
The hosts were bundled out for a meager 46 runs in just 31.2 overs, marking their third-lowest Test score ever and their lowest at home.
The Kiwi fast bowling duo of Matt Henry and William O’Rourke exploited the overcast conditions, sharing nine wickets between them.
India’s previous lowest Test score at home was 75 against the West Indies in New Delhi in 1987, while their overall lowest is 36 against Australia in Adelaide in 2020.
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They also fell for 42 against England at Lord’s in 1974.
“It was my misjudgement of the pitch,” Rohit said.
“I am hurting a little bit because I made that call. We found ourselves in a situation where we got bowled out for 46 runs. As a captain, it definitely hurts to see that number,” he added.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rohit for his honest and big-hearted post-match comments, where he took full responsibility for the team’s dismal show in the first innings.
“Love Rohit Sharma’s honesty & big heartedness. Saying he didn’t read the pitch well enough. Not blaming anyone. Top man!,” Manjrekar wrote on his social media handle.
At the end of the day, New Zealand reached 180/3 in response to India’s 46 all out, with Rachin Ravindra (22) and Daryl Mitchell (14) unbeaten when bad light stopped play, giving the visitors a lead of 134 runs.
