Credits: X
Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar reacted to India’s loss against New Zealand in the Test series and labelled it as a ‘tough pill to swallow’. Notably, New Zealand recorded history as they became the first ever team to whitewash India 3-0 on Indian soil in Tests. With the elite Border-Gavaskar Trophy being around the corner, the loss has not only kept the side under fire but also compelled pundits and fans to question the side's preparation for the same as well as participation in the World Test Championship Final 2025.
New Zealand recorded 3-0 win in the final Test with a commanding 25-run win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Rohit Sharma-led side needed to chase the target of 147-runs but they crumbled to 121 all-out in 29.1 overs. Ajaz Patel created havoc and picked six wickets in the game, including the dismissal of Rishabh Pant, who emerged as a beacon of hope for the home side with 64 runs.
Tough pill to swallow, calls for introspection: Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, regarded as one of the greatest players of the game ever, called the loss a “tough pill to swallow.” On X, Tendulkar wrote, “Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection. Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection, or was it lack of match practice?” However, he praised Shubman Gill for his knock in the first innings and Rishabh Pant for standing strong in both the innings.
Tendulkar wrote, @ShubmanGill (Shubman Gill) showed resilience in the first innings, and @RishabhPant17 (Rishabh Pant was brilliant in both innings— his footwork made a challenging surface look like a different one altogether. He was simply superb. Full credit to New Zealand for their consistent performance throughout the series. Winning 3-0 in India is as good a result as it can get.”
