In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand triumphed over India by 113 runs in the second Test in Pune, clinching a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. This defeat not only halted India’s impressive streak of 18 consecutive home series victories in Test cricket but also left captain Rohit Sharma visibly upset.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have struggled in the longest format. In the Pune Test, Rohit was dismissed for a duck and managed just 8 runs across both innings, while Kohli scored only 1 and 17. Their recent performances have raised eyebrows, as Rohit previously scored 2 and 52 in the Bengaluru Test, and Kohli's contributions were 0 and 70.

With their current form resembling that of “walking wickets,” the duo faces mounting pressure ahead of the final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, followed by a challenging five-match series in Australia.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concern over their performance, stating, “Their form is a cause for concern for the team. However, they will encounter different challenges in Australia,” during his segment on ESPNcricinfo. This loss marked Rohit’s fourth defeat in just 15 home matches as captain.

Mitchell Santner emerged as the standout player in the second Test, claiming 13 wickets and earning the Player of the Match accolade. His remarkable bowling figures of 13/157 rank as the third-best for a New Zealand bowler, and similarly, one of the top figures against India.

Reflecting on the defeat, Rohit Sharma expressed his disappointment, saying, “I am hurt and disappointed. We didn’t anticipate this kind of result, but credit goes to New Zealand for their performance.”