IND vz NZ, 3rd Test: Rohit Sharma admits to batting and leadership failures

Mumbai: In the wake of a disappointing Test series loss to New Zealand, India captain Rohit Sharma candidly reflected on the team's performance, acknowledging serious shortcomings in both his batting and leadership.

In a post-match interaction on Sunday, Rohit expressed, "I wasn't at my best with both bat and as a captain, that's something that'll rankle me."

Rohit acknowledged the collective failure of the team, stating, "We didn't perform well collectively, and that's the reason for these losses."

He emphasised that the inability to post competitive scores played a crucial role in their downfall. "We didn't put enough runs on the board in the first innings and we were behind in the game," he said, reflecting on the pressure that built as the series progressed.

The captain lamented the missed opportunities, particularly after gaining a 30-odd lead in the second innings. "The target was achievable; we had to do better though," he remarked, highlighting the need for more proactive batting.

Rohit noted that despite having strategies in mind, they failed to execute them on the challenging pitches, admitting, "It didn't come off, and that's disappointing for me."

In recognising the prowess of the opposition, Rohit conceded, "They did so much better than us," and acknowledged the critical mistakes made by the team throughout the series. His candid reflections underscore the need for introspection and improvement as the Indian squad prepares for future competitions, aiming to bounce back stronger.