IND vs NZ : Abhishek Nayar Downplays India’s Spin Woes After Pune Debacle Ahead Of 3rd Test Match

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India National Cricket Team assistant coach Abhishek Nayar cleared the air on them making rank turner for the third Test against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. Abhishek Nayar said that they don’t curate the pitches and they just try to play on what is given to them. India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has played down the team’s weakness against spin in recent times saying that doubting their potential would be ‘harsh’ at the moment.

India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has asked the fans to be patient with veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they are being criticized for poor batting performances in the first two Tests against New Zealand in the ongoing series. India National Cricket Team and New Zealand National Cricket Team will be taking on each other in the final game of the three-match Test series. The dead rubber game will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from 1st November (Friday).

India has already lost the series vs NZ with the 3rd test now becoming an all important test.

India has already lost the series after they faced two back-to-back losses in the first two games against the New Zealand National Cricket Team in Bengaluru and Pune. But even though the series has already been won by the visitors, the last game holds high importance for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

Notably, India lost their first Test series at home since 2012 as New Zealand handed them a 113-run defeat in the second Test and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors as he registered his career-best figures of 13/157 as India lost 19 out of the 20 wickets to spin. However, despite their dismal show against the spinners, Abhishek Nayar reckons putting a question mark on the team’s capabilities is quite harsh as they’re pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

Assistant coach Abhishek Nayar downplays India’s spin woes after Pune debacle

Team India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar reckons that it is too harsh to term the side’s batters poor players of spin in the wake of their collapse against Mitchell Santner in the second Test in Pune. He, instead, credited the Kiwis for exploiting the conditions much better than the hosts.

Having gone down to New Zealand by eight wickets in the Bengaluru Test on a seaming surface, India succumbed to a 113-run loss in Pune as left-arm spinner Santner picked up 13 wickets. Courtesy of the twin triumphs, the Black Caps registered their maiden Test series win in India. The hosts will now be keen to avoid a whitewash in the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

At a press conference on Wednesday, October 30, Nayar reflected on India’s poor batting effort in Pune and backed the players to do much better in Mumbai.

He said (as quoted by The Times of India):

“Well, I think firstly that’s a bit of a harsh statement for anyone (on India no longer being good players of spin). I think credit goes to the New Zealand bowlers as they exploited the conditions well and they were very consistent.”

The 41-year-old also opened up on India’s much-debated aggressive philosophy under new coach Gautam Gambhir. Admitting that the approach could backfire at times, the former all-rounder asserted that the mindset is all about sticking to the process and the belief systems. Nayar said:

“I feel that when we talk about playing aggressive cricket when you talk about having aggressive intent, there are going to be times when it may not work out for you. And I think Gauti (head coach Gautam Gambhir) has said this before, at times when you get games like Bangladesh, where we go in and get the fastest 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, there are going to be days when it doesn’t look as good and, you know, fruitful.”

“But I think sometimes it’s about sticking to the process and the belief systems when you’re trying to achieve something. I’ve always believed as a team or as an individual, there’s always going to be a time when you take a certain dip because you’re trying to play cricket differently and you’re trying to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Sometimes the results don’t go your way,” Nayar added.

Before the losses to New Zealand, India hammered Bangladesh by seven wickets in Kanpur despite two full days of play being lost to rain and weather conditions.

Abhishek Nayar hints that Jasprit Bumrah might play in Mumbai

There have been some reports doing the rounds that Team India’s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for the Mumbai Test, keeping his workload in Mumbai.

However, speaking at the press conference, Nayar hinted that the right-arm pacer is likely to be part of the playing XI in Mumbai, saying:

“He (Bumrah) has not bowled a lot. He has got ample rest. He is very important to us and workload is always in our mind… In the morning, there will be swing and seam. At Wankhede, you’ll have pacers with a smile on their face.”

Bumrah picked up three wickets in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru but went wicketless in the second Test in Pune. This is because the crucial World Test Championship points are on the line. India, after facing two back-to-back losses, has been jolted with the loss in PCT on the points table. To keep themselves in contention for the final of the tournament, they need to win the last game of the series.

Meanwhile, after losing the series against New Zealand, India’s chances to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship have taken a major hit. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be eager to put their demons against spin behind them and avoid a whitewash on their home soil by winning the last Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai beginning from November 1.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights


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