New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner ran through the Indian batting line-up in the Pune Test.
In particular, this result has put the Indian batters on the spotlight. On a turning track, India’s two innings folded for 156 and 245 as the Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner bagged 13 wickets to script his team’s series-clinching victory.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, South African legend AB de Villiers weighed in on India's defeat, suggesting that the belief that Indian players are great players of spin is merely a perception.
"When you go to India, Indian players are the best players of spin, it is perceived to be, doesn't always mean that it is a fact that all the batters are the best players of spin in the world. When you get a turning wicket and you get a good bowler, no matter how good of a player you are, you will be under pressure. If the batter has got the mind and skill and the ability, you can score runs in any conditions in the world," de Villiers said.
"There is nothing wrong with the Indian players, they are incredible players, all of them and they can play spin. But I think a lot of teams have caught up and that perception of when you go to India, those times are gone. The 90s and early 2000s are gone, when you are just a walking wicket in certain conditions. Look at Virat Kohli, he has scored 100s in South Africa as well," he added.
According to AB de Villiers, India invited big risk by preparing turning pitch for the Pune Test, which was further compounded when facing a street-smart team like New Zealand.
"Well, they lost the toss in the second Test. I think they took a big risk by really making sure that the wicket turns a lot from start to finish. With that, when you play against a street-smart team, guys like Glenn Phillips, no one thought of him as a spinner, but fiery spin right at the wickets quick, doesn't matter if you are a part-time spinner, you are in the match. Especially when you have batted first and got the runs, the pressure is on the team batting second. That is a risk that India took by making a dry wicket and they wanted to play New Zealand on their terms," de Villiers stated.
"But the problem with that is when you lose the toss and the opposition gets a good enough total, you are always under pressure. On this occasion, I felt New Zealand had all the answers, in the bowling department especially. They had answers to all questions, even the seam bowlers played their role," he further remarked.
The third Test against New Zealand, slated to be held in Mumbai from November 1, has become a must-win for India to stay in the WTC final race. The Rohit Sharma-led side will next travel to Australia for the five-match Test series.
Losing the New Zealand series 3-0 will make life rather difficult for India as they need at least four wins in the remaining six Tests and will need to depend on other teams to qualify for the WTC final.