New Zealand became the first team to whitewash India in Tests since 2000.
Ace India spinner R Ashwin has reacted to India’s recent whitewash in Tests at home to New Zealand. The Kiwis under Tom Latham became the first team to win a three-Test series 3-0 in India and handed India their first Test series loss at home since 2012.
India's performance in all three categories, particularly batting, was below average throughout three Tests, as the Kiwis outperformed Rohit Sharma and co. The New Zealand spinners wreaked havoc on Indian wickets, shocking the hosts.
R Ashwin, who couldn’t do much with the ball or the bat in the series, called the series white-wash a ‘shattering experience”.
"We have been hit by a 3-0 loss to New Zealand. I read that it has never happened in India in history. I don't know how to react or react to it. I know that in my career and my experience in cricket, we don't have so many emotions when we play. But it's a very shattering experience. That's the right word for it. I didn't know how to react or respond to it for the last 2-3 days,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin too faulted himself for not being able to contribute with the bat in the lower order. The 38-year-old, however, praised the BlackCaps bowlers for their outstanding performance.
"I expect a lot from myself. I am a guy who says I am the reason for everything that went wrong. I am also a big reason and a big part of it (series loss). I couldn't contribute to the lower-order runs. As a bowler, I know that runs are a vital currency for a bowler. I started well in many places, then I threw it away on a couple of occasions. I put my best but it wasn't enough," Ashwin added.
The surprising series loss has jeopardized India's prospects of reaching the World Test Championship Final, as they must now win four out of five Tests in Australia to qualify without relying on the results of other teams.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy began on November 22 in Perth.