Team India was shocked by a series loss at home to New Zealand last week, which cast doubt on their ability to reach the World Test Championship final. India is leading the WTC table, but the lead is slender: 0.32 percentage points more than second-placed Australia. The two teams will engage in a highly anticipated five-Test series in Australia next month.
New Zealand’s wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell was effusive in his praise regarding the significance of his team’s historic victory over India. It was the Kiwis’ first-ever Test series win on Indian soil, and it made them the first team to inflict a series defeat on India at home in 12 years. He seemed to imply that complacency cost India this series, even saying that the hosts had “written us off” after New Zealand recently lost to Sri Lanka 0-2. They’re a little bit shell-shocked,” Blundell said during an appearance on SENZ Mornings.
He recalled that upon arrival in India, there was a slogan doing rounds in India for a 5-0 sweep for their home summer. “I’m pretty sure they wrote us off after Sri Lanka. But I think they’re pretty shocked with what we have achieved and how we have come out to compete and played some really good cricket against one of the best teams in the world,” he added.
India’s big setback came in the first Test when they were bowled out for just 45 runs in the first innings in Bengaluru. They put up a fine fightback with 462 runs in the second innings, but it was not good enough to prevent an 8-wicket defeat. Their batting problems persisted in the second Test in Pune, which they lost by 113 runs.
Blundell added fancies a clean sweep against India, and players can go home with “a pretty big smile” even if they don’t get the result in the final Test. “The World Test Championship is still on the line, motivating us. But it’s going to be a challenge. India is probably hurting from this,” he said.
“Regardless of the result, we can go home with a big smile. What we have achieved here is immense; it’s probably one of the biggest highlights of my career. We’re excited about the opportunity to beat them 3-0, but we’re pretty chuffed regardless of that.
