Anil Kumble Sounds Alarm Over India's Batting Woes After 3-0 Series Loss

Anil Kumble, the former head coach and legendary leg-spinner of India, has raised serious concerns regarding the team's batting performance following their historic 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand. He emphasized that the primary issue facing the Rohit Sharma-led side is the need to recognize and address the underlying problems within their batting lineup.

In the final Test at Wankhede Stadium, India faced a disappointing outcome, being bowled out for just 121 while chasing a target of 147, marking their first home Test series whitewash since 1999-2000. The batting struggles were highlighted by Rishabh Pant’s counterattacking innings of 64 runs off 57 balls, which stood out in an otherwise lackluster performance. Notably, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to make significant contributions, accumulating only 91 and 93 runs, respectively, across the series.

Kumble pointed out the alarming trend of the Indian batting unit’s inability to adapt against spin bowling, stating, "This has consistently happened over the last three Test matches. Whenever the spinners come on, there hasn't been a noticeable improvement from one game to the next." He noted that despite some players making adjustments, the team as a whole struggled to avoid batting collapses, particularly within single sessions. "For this lineup to say, 'There's nothing wrong'—I think there's something seriously wrong here. The most challenging part is accepting that there's a problem," Kumble said during an interview on JioCinema and Sports18.

Echoing Kumble's sentiments, former India wicketkeeper-batter and selector Saba Karim urged the team to reassess their approach to batting, particularly in home conditions. "If you look at the three Test matches—they've gotten over in two to three days," Karim remarked. "This is a big indication that Indian batting has been a failure throughout the series." He criticized the team's lack of preparation for varied match scenarios, noting that they seemed overly reliant on winning the toss and batting first.

Karim also highlighted standout performances from bowlers like Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja but stressed that batting must share equal importance in match success. He observed that the Indian batters appeared too eager to score runs, which proved detrimental in crucial moments. "I believe that across the three matches, the Indian batters were in a hurry to put runs on the board, and here that was not really necessary," he added.

Kumble concluded his analysis by praising New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips for his disciplined bowling, which provided crucial support to Ajaz Patel during their innings. He acknowledged that spin would play a significant role in New Zealand's success and commended their strategic execution, particularly in dealing with Rishabh Pant’s threat at the crease.

The commentary from Kumble and Karim reflects a broader concern about India's batting resilience and adaptability, as the team prepares for future challenges, including their upcoming series against Australia. As the team introspects, it is clear that addressing these batting issues will be vital for regaining their competitive edge on the international stage.