India suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the second Test match, leading to fears among the Indian media that it may mark the end of a golden era for players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This defeat ended India’s streak of 18 consecutive bilateral home series wins and was the first time New Zealand had won a Test series on Indian soil since beginning tours there in 1955. The Indian Express newspaper described the loss as the “end of a golden era” and questioned if India had worthy replacements for the current players.
The Times of India declared “Olympus Has Fallen” on its front page, highlighting the stark reality of India’s performance in the series. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are considered key players for India, struggled with the bat against New Zealand’s spin attack, led by Mitchell Santner. India’s batting collapses in the series, including scores of 46 all out and 156 in the two Tests, raised concerns about the team’s future and the aging of key players like Rohit and Kohli.
Rohit Sharma downplayed the losses, suggesting that occasional poor performances were inevitable even for a successful team like India. However, the series defeat has put a spotlight on the future of players like Kohli and Sharma, with the Hindustan Times expressing concerns about their careers. Kohli, in particular, has struggled to replicate his past successes, with just one half-century in five Tests this year. In contrast, New Zealand players like Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra performed well against India’s bowling attack.
India’s disappointing show against New Zealand has raised questions about the team’s preparedness for their upcoming five-Test tour of Australia. With key players like Kohli and Rohit not performing up to expectations, India will need to find quick answers and potentially look for new talent to strengthen their lineup. The series defeat against New Zealand may indicate a changing of the guard for Indian cricket, with a need for fresh faces and renewed energy to maintain their competitiveness on the international stage.
