Former New Zealand pace bowler Simon Doull has defended Indian captain Rohit Sharma despite India suffering a shocking home Test series defeat to New Zealand. He added that senior spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also need to own responsibility for the loss as well.

Speaking to news agency PTI, he commented: “If you can’t trust an Ashwin or a Jadeja to set his own field, you can’t blame Rohit for that all the time. I think the bowlers have to have some part to play in that as well. I think winning the toss is crucial. For Rohit, the wrong decision at Bangalore was crucial. He has admitted to that as well. New Zealand seamers took advantage of that. Winning the toss in this Test (at Pune), when you knew, pitch was going to turn…it might not have looked like a big score, 259 in the (New Zealand) first innings.”

ALSO READ: “Shubman’s captaincy is very good” – Ravi Bishnoi on Shubman Gill

While Santner picked up 13 wickets in Pune, Indian off-spinner Washington Sundar also starred with 11 as well. However, the rest of the bowlers could not make much of an impact even as Team India’s batters continued to struggle as well. Meanwhile, Ashwin and Jadeja have six scalps each to their name after two Tests against New Zealand in the ongoing series, averaging 43.50 and 37.50, respectively.

“But it was made to look like a really big score because the ball was turning. So, I think Tom Latham’s captaincy was outstanding for the most part. People say Rohit might have been a touch defensive, but that comes down to the bowlers. There are very, very senior spin bowlers in that side,” the former Kiwi pacer further added.