The series began ominously for India with a heavy defeat at the Basin Reserve, and Christchurch offered no redemption. The Indian batting lineup, renowned for its firepower, faltered repeatedly. On seaming, green-tinged decks, their inability to adapt and resist was laid bare. It was a stark reminder of the bygone days when the team's fortunes hinged precariously on the shoulders of Sachin Tendulkar. Once Kohli was dismissed, the batting order crumbled like a house of cards, evoking memories of the 1990s when Tendulkar’s early departure often spelt doom.
India’s batting statistics from this series were dismal. The average runs per wicket stood at a paltry 18.5, with their highest total across four innings a mere 242. Kohli, the linchpin of India’s batting, managed an uncharacteristically low series average of 9.50. Mayank Agarwal’s 58 was the solitary half-century in an otherwise barren display. In contrast, New Zealand’s lower order outperformed expectations, with their eighth to tenth-wicket partnerships averaging 34.61. The tail’s contributions were pivotal, exemplified by Kyle Jamieson’s partnerships with Neil Wagner, Colin de Grandhomme, and Trent Boult, which turned potentially precarious situations into commanding positions.
According to ESPNcricinfo, New Zealand’s last three wickets added 205 runs across two first innings, including two fifty-plus stands. In the second Test, a crucial 51-run stand between Jamieson and Wagner limited the first-innings deficit to just seven runs. Similarly, in the first Test, Jamieson’s partnerships with de Grandhomme and Boult yielded 71 and 38 runs, respectively, extending the lead to a formidable 183. In stark contrast, India’s tail contributed a meagre 124 runs across four innings, averaging just 10.33 per dismissal.
This abysmal performance brought back memories of India’s struggles during the 2014-15 tours of England and Australia, where their bowlers conceded averages of 42.92 and 43.50 to the opposition’s lower order. Such frailties are unbecoming of a team ranked number one in the world. A truly dominant side, like Clive Lloyd’s West Indies or the Australian juggernauts under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, would never exhibit such vulnerabilities.
These legendary teams were more than conquerors; they were cricketing dynasties that exuded an aura of invincibility. Lloyd’s West Indies, with Richards, Marshall, and Holding, and Waugh’s Australia, featuring Warne, McGrath, and Gilchrist, didn’t merely win—they dominated, often crushing their opponents into submission. Their greatness lay not only in skill but also in their ability to thrive in foreign conditions, be it the bouncy tracks of Australia, the turning pitches of the subcontinent, or the seaming conditions of England.
In today’s era, however, the dominance of home-track bullies has diluted the charm of Test cricket. Teams thrive on their own turf but falter abroad. India, for instance, will likely devour New Zealand on rank-turners at home, just as New Zealand dismantled them on green tops. This predictable pattern robs the game of its unpredictability and the thrill of witnessing all-conquering teams.
Cricket needs the resurgence of sides that can inspire awe and fear, much like Alexander the Great’s armies. The sport’s golden eras were defined by teams that redefined greatness—Lloyd’s West Indies and Waugh’s Australia brought an unmatched charisma to the game. Players like Richards, Greenidge, Warne, Ponting, and McGrath were warriors who elevated cricket to an art form, leaving indelible marks on the sport’s history.
The current generation of cricket fans deserves to witness such dominance—a team that transcends conditions conquers adversities, and etches its name in the annals of greatness. Only then can cricket reclaim its lost aura and remind the world of the glory it once commanded.
