“It is a misconception…”: Ex-New Zealand cricketer blasts Indian batters

Ex-New Zealand star blasts Indian batters for shambolic performance

Former New Zealand cricketer and broadcaster Simon Doull slammed Indian batters for their poor performance against spinners Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips during the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, saying that it is a misconception that modern Indian players are good players of spin. He also added hat gone are the days when India used to have batters who knew how to tackle spin bowlers well.

A disappointing batting performance saw India get bowled out for 156 in their first innings against New Zealand. This display has  put the hosts at a rare risk of a Test series loss at home and has put their 12-year, 18 series-long unbeaten record in jeopardy.

Speaking after India’s innings on air, Doull said that the it is not true that Indian players currently are as good as against spin as their older counterparts in Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid etc.

“I think it is a misconception around the world now that these modern Indian players are better playing spin than anyone else. They are not. They are the same as everyone else around the world. Gone are the days of Ganguly, Gambhir, Laxman and Dravid. Sachin was so, so good against spin, and the era before them. I think good quality spinners are just as good as getting India out on turning tracks as Indian spinners against good quality opposition batters. And the moment they see a turning track in IPL, they complain,” Doull said.

After getting bundled out for 156, the Indian bowlers would fail in bowling out the Kiwis within the second day itself and would concede almost 200 runs on the loss of 5 wickets by the end of day’s play as the visitors took a massive lead of 301 runs.

The match can very well be out of India’s reach already but still the bowlers will need to get the remaining Kiwi batters out within the first session of the third day itself otherwise, New Zealand may give them with an even bigger target and run away with the match and the series.