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In a scathing review, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has criticized the Indian team for their “overconfidence” following a stunning defeat by New Zealand in the Pune Test. Heading into the series, few expected the Kiwis to pose a serious challenge, but they turned the tables, clinching the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead and handing India their first home series loss in 12 years.
After dominating Bangladesh in just 1.5 days in Kanpur, India appeared primed for another easy victory. However, Basit Ali believes that triumph bred complacency within the Indian camp. “The Indian team got overconfident after defeating Bangladesh so easily and underestimated the Kiwis,” Basit stated on his YouTube channel. “India’s batting got exposed. In the first match, New Zealand’s pacers took 17 wickets, and in the second, spinners took 19. Whether on a bouncy pitch in Bengaluru or a spinning track, India struggled.”
Basit suggested that India’s focus on their upcoming series in Australia may have caused them to take New Zealand lightly. He added, “India’s management and players were clearly overconfident, thinking they’d defeat the Kiwis without much trouble.”
India’s WTC Final Spot in Jeopardy
The consecutive defeats to New Zealand have left India’s place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final hanging by a thread. Currently, India must win 4 of their remaining 6 Tests to secure a spot in the WTC final, scheduled for June next year. This challenge will be anything but easy, as India faces five tough Tests in Australia.
With other teams also vying for a spot, India will need to be cautious and resilient to stay in contention for the WTC final. This setback against New Zealand is a reminder that no opponent can be taken for granted on the path to global cricketing glory.
