Former India batting great VVS Laxman has said that Virat Kohli led Team India were not disciplined enough in all the departments for quite some time now which handed them their 0-2 series loss in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. On Monday, New Zealand pace duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee dismissed the Indian lower order, before the fifties from the Kiwi openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell set New Zealand up for a comfortable seven-wicket victory at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. The hosts had won the first Test by 10 wickets in Wellington as well.
Laxman took to Twitter and congratulated the Kiwis. ‘Many congratulations to the Black Caps on beating India and winning the Test series comprehensively. India couldn’t show the discipline required to stick it out and will be deeply disappointed,’ he tweeted.
Many congratulations to the @BLACKCAPS on beating India and winning the Test series comprehensively. India couldn't show the discipline required to stick it out and will be deeply disappointed. #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/znJZHLr8Kx
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 2, 2020
He also said that Kohli’s failure with the bat on the New Zealand tour was one of the biggest reasons why Team India failed to register a win in ODIs and Test matches. Virat Kohli managed to score just 38 runs in four Test innings with the highest score of 19 and also suffered his first Test series whitewash as India captain. In the limited-overs series as well, he had failed to impress as he could manage just one half-century in eight innings. In total, he scored only 218 runs from 11 innings on their New Zealand tour with 51 being his highest score.
“The biggest talking point on this tour right from the one-day series to these two Test matches has been the form of two very important players — Virat Kohli in the batting department and Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling department,” VVS Laxman said in the post-match show on Star Sports.
“Virat Kohli’s form has definitely been the biggest letdown for the Indian team because when your top batsman, probably the best in the world, averages 9 (9.50 to be precise) in the two Test matches, I think it is going to be tough for the visiting side. They didn’t show any fight in the Tests,” he further added.
However, India came in the series after registering seven consecutive wins in the Tests which is a part of the ICC World Test Championship which included their series against West Indies, Bangladesh, and South Africa as well. With these wins, they are at the top of the points table. Hence, despite the whitewash, they will be at the top of the table with a whopping 360 points. New Zealand, on the other hand, have moved on to the third place with 180 points.
