Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on home Test series loss to New Zealand, calls it ‘shattering experience’

Ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on Team India’s home series loss to New Zealand, calling it a shattering experience. Ashwin, 38, failed to live up to his hype playing at home, picking just nine wickets across six innings in three matches, averaging a worrying 41.22. With the bat in hand, he scored just 51 runs.

As the Kiwis blanked India 3-0, breaking their 12-year-long winning streak at home, Ashwin admitted not knowing how to react after the shocking outcome.

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New Zealand first won the Bengaluru Test, completing their only third Test win in India and their first in 36 years before taking the series home in the next match in Pune. With their maiden Test series whitewash over India on the line, the New Zealand Team outplayed the hosts in the final Test in Mumbai to take the series home.

Speaking on his YouTube channel almost a week later, Ashwin said he was disappointed and hurt with the result and didn’t know how to respond to it for the next 2-3 days.

“I don’t know how to respond and react to this series loss,” Ashwin said about India’s 0-3 loss against New Zealand at home.

“I know that in my career and in my experience in cricket, it was a very shattering experience. It is the right word to describe the series. I didn’t know how to respond for the last 2-3 last days.

“Sometimes we face defeats — it is not like we have not lost before. Losing is okay. Thinking we are invincible will be the first mistake — and we never thought so. Maybe if we analyse it after 20 days, we will be able to reflect better and expect closure. Only if there is a closure, I will know if I learn from it. It can be the springboard,” he said.

What went in New Zealand’s favour?

Ashwin explained how the Kiwis found success in India this time. Although he began by saying that the tourists played incredible cricket throughout and deserved to win on merit, Ashwin pointed out how quicker pitches on offer prevented Indian spinners from trapping them in front across all games, which New Zealand made the most of, and walked away with the win.

“New Zealand played some fantastic cricket. At no stage in the series did they bat out India, but had enough runs on the board for their bowlers to stay in the game. They defended well, and there were no LBWs because of the speed of the pitch. It eliminated the pitch. They didn’t get hit in the legs. They just protected the outside edge. I think I couldn’t exploit it. I felt bad,” Ashwin added.

Meanwhile, the latest reports suggest that the BCCI held a marathon six-hour long meeting with the head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, discussing what went wrong for the hosts and how they could improve to turn the tables around during the tour Down Under.

(With inputs from agencies)