He said India batsmen didn't have the right answers to counter the Kiwi attack.
VVS Laxman was disappointed to see Team India’s batting collapse on Day 3 of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Sunday (June 20).
New Zealand bowlers made the most of the bowler-friendly conditions in Southampton and tested the temperament and discipline of the Indian team as Virat Kohli and his team succumbed to an all-out pace attack for 217 after resuming day three on 146/3 on Sunday.
Kyle Jamieson (5/31) has yet again shined with the ball, as Team India suffered a dramatic collapse, losing out their last 7 wickets for 68 runs before getting bowled out 30 minutes after lunch on Day 3.
Laxman wrote in his column for the Times of India, “India's worst fears came true on Sunday when the class and depth in New Zealand's bowling triggered a dramatic collapse in Southampton. The Kiwis exploited the bowler-friendly conditions superbly, asking sustained questions of India's temperament and discipline. Unfortunately from an Indian perspective, their batsmen didn't really have the right answers, which is why having targeted 300, India was bowled out for 217.”
He further added, “India's hopes of translating their target into reality rested on the broad shoulders of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. However, Virat went early without adding to his 44, set up beautifully by Kyle Jamieson.”
On Jamieson, Laxman said: “For someone as tall as him to bowl the lengths he did, fuller and therefore compelling the batsmen to play while also bringing lbw into play, was commendable. After bowling a few slightly back-of-length balls that shaped away from Virat, Jamieson delivered the sucker punch from the same angle of release, a full back that ducked in and caught the Indian captain in front.”
The 6'8" tall fast bowler dismissed Virat Kohli (44) and Rishabh Pant (4) during a six-over opening spell with the old ball before removing both Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah off successive deliveries to cap a brilliant 22 overs of swing bowling after the lunch in Southampton.
The former batsman further added, “It was another full ball that accounted for Rishabh Pant. The young man had shown great restraint for nearly half an hour, but couldn't resist anymore when Jamieson floated up a tempter that moved away.
Pant's flat-footed drive flew to second slip. From time to time, he will have such moments. It's something the team management has reconciled to because especially in the recent past, the good has comprehensively outweighed the bad.”
Laxman also said Ajinkya Rahane’s (49) dismissal by Neil Wagner (2/40) was the most disappointing one. He wrote, “The most disappointing dismissal was Rahane's. It's not the first time he has been packed off playing a shot at the short ball, it happened last year in Christchurch too. He must find ways to either move out of the way or defend it because playing the pull to every short offering is a high-risk option.”
He signed off by saying, “That he chose to play a half-hearted stroke when a fielder had been moved to square-leg just then rounded off a forgettable passage of play for him. While India's total might have fallen below expectations, they can take heart from the exploits of their bowlers over last two years.”
(With TOI inputs)