After India suffered a 3-0 series whitewash at home against New Zealand, former world champion Yuvraj Singh shared his thoughts on the remarkable feat achieved by the visitors, their first in 24 years. Yuvraj, like many fans and analysts, was taken aback by India’s sudden downturn, particularly considering the high stakes of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC 2023-25).
Reflecting on the contrasting highs and lows in sports, he took to social media to commend the Blackcaps for their resilience and skill. In the decisive third Test at Wankhede Stadium, New Zealand clinched a 25-run victory, marking an end to the series in emphatic fashion. This clean sweep was India’s first home series whitewash since their 2000 loss to South Africa under Hansie Cronje.
Sharing his reaction on social media, Yuvraj called the Kiwis’ unexpected dominance the “beauty of the game.” He emphasized the humbling nature of cricket, especially as India had recently celebrated a T20 World Cup victory.
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“Cricket truly is a humbling sport, isn’t it? Just months after our T20 World Cup win, we face a historic whitewash. That’s the beauty of this game! Bigger tests lie ahead with the Australia series & the way forward is to introspect, learn and look up! Congratulations to the @BLACKCAPS on a well-rounded performance and a historic win,” Yuvraj Singh wrote on ‘X’.
Cricket truly is a humbling sport, isn’t it? Just months after our T20 World Cup win, we face a historic whitewash. That’s the beauty of this game! Bigger tests lie ahead with the Australia series & the way forward is to introspect, learn and look up!
Congratulations to the…
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) November 3, 2024
The loss struck a chord with fans and cricket veterans alike. Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar echoed Yuvraj’s sentiments and urged the team to look inward. India’s batting performance came under fire, with the team conceding significant first-innings leads in all three Tests—a rare occurrence last seen in 2021.
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Sachin Tendulkar pointed out that despite Sarfaraz Khan’s lone century in the series, the batting unit struggled collectively. However, he did praise Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant for their tenacity, particularly Pant’s aggressive stroke play, which briefly turned the pressure onto the visitors. “Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection. Was it a lack of preparation, poor shot selection, or lack of match practice?” Tendulkar remarked, adding that the Kiwi squad deserved credit for their sustained efforts.
Losing 3-0 at home is a tough pill to swallow, and it calls for introspection.
Was it lack of preparation, was it poor shot selection, or was it lack of match practice? @ShubmanGill showed resilience in the first innings, and @RishabhPant17 was brilliant in both innings— his… pic.twitter.com/8f1WifI5Hd— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 3, 2024
This stunning series win in India serves as a testament to New Zealand’s consistency and competitive spirit, particularly in foreign conditions. As India moves forward, the team faces the task of learning from this setback to tackle bigger challenges on the horizon, beginning with the upcoming series against Australia.
