New Delhi: India skipper Rohit Sharma took full responsibility for his team’s humiliating 0-3 Test series whitewash to New Zealand on their home soil, describing it as a “very low point of my career”.
India crashed to a 25-run defeat in the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, unable to reach a target of 147 runs in the fourth innings.
The hosts were bowled out for 121 after yet another pathetic batting display as Ajaz patel (6/43) and Glen Phillips (3/42) spun a web around the Indian batters.
It is the first time that India have suffered a whitewash in a series comprising of at least three Tests, having suffered a similar fate in a two-match series against South Africa in 1999.
“Something like this will be a very low point of my career and I take full responsibility for it,” Rohit said at a scheduled media interaction after the match on Sunday.
“Yes absolutely (bitter pill to swallow). Losing a series, a Test match, is never easy… something that is not easily digestible. We didn’t play our best cricket. New Zealand played better throughout the series. There were a lot of mistakes we did.
“The first two Tests we did not put enough runs in the first innings. This game we got the 30 runs (28) lead and the target was chaseable.
“We failed as a unit. When you are chasing a target like that, you want runs on the board. That was in my mind and it did not come of. When it does not come off it does not look great,” he added.
The manner in which India capitulated pained Rohit, who also accepted that his own batting form has been particularly disappointing.
“I go in with certain plans and those did not come off this series. We did not play our best cricket in these conditions and are facing the result of that.
“I was not at my best as captain in leading the team as well as with the bat also. Collectively as a unit we failed to perform,” the right handed opener said.
