Despite India’s frustrating pattern of losing the first Test in the series, Rohit Sharma and his team can take solace in their proven ability to recover and turn the series around.
Rohit Sharma’s Reaction to Opening Test Defeats
Rohit Sharma took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the flickering lights on the press room ceiling as he contemplated the question. The inquiry centred on India’s tendency to lose the first Test only to bounce back and win the series. He responded with a calm, matter-of-fact smile: “Every time we play, especially in a Test series, we don’t approach the first game thinking we’ll lose. We don’t play casual cricket.” Despite his composed response, his frustration was evident—not with the question, but with India’s growing record of first-Test losses.
In the past three years, India has lost the opening Test twice against England and once against Australia in 2017. They came close to losing the first match to Bangladesh, and New Zealand managed to force a draw in Kanpur in their last series. Now, India faces the challenge of making a comeback against New Zealand again, especially with the stakes of a World Test Championship final spot on the line. Although this trend is irritating for Rohit and his team, they remain optimistic due to their experience in overcoming such deficits. As Rohit said, “I’m not dwelling too much on this match. Those few hours don’t define what this team is.”
Acceptance and Optimism
The atmosphere wasn’t one of gloom or regret but more of acceptance and readiness to move forward. Rohit did, however, issue a subtle warning: “We’ve made a few small mistakes, and we’re paying the price for them. But that doesn’t mean it’s over.”
New Zealand, if unaware of India’s ability to bounce back, got a preview of it in the Bengaluru Test. In the first innings, on a flat pitch, India bowled with aggression, reducing New Zealand to 223 for seven before a lucky partnership saved them. In the second innings, India batted with freedom and determination, though a brief phase saw them lose wickets in clusters. During this phase, every misstep was punished, and every lucky edge fell into the hands of fielders. India had moments where fortune seemed to be against them—such as the toss—but they fought till the very end, expending all their energy, skill, and effort to try and create a miracle that never came.
Instead of spiralling into doubt, India is likely to treat this defeat as an anomaly, just as they’ve done with other opening-Test losses. This Indian team has been defined by their comebacks. The 2020-21 Australia series stands as a prime example, but there are numerous other, less-publicized instances of them rallying back.
Past Comebacks Fuel Confidence
Consider the Visakhapatnam Test against England. After an unexpected slip-up in Hyderabad, India responded with intensity and ruthlessness, catching England off-guard. The English team left Visakhapatnam bruised and filled with doubt, and as the tour progressed, they were utterly overwhelmed. Ben Stokes later commented on how India had an uncanny ability to come back stronger as if the first Test defeat had only served to fuel their determination. “You can’t take your foot off the gas against them—they just keep coming back,” he said.
It’s no wonder India has remained undefeated in their last 18 home series despite occasional setbacks. In fact, India has lost only two home series in this century.
Home Advantage and Unwavering Resolve
For India, starting strong isn’t everything, as they’ve shown their ability to rebound at home. In the past 12 years, India has only lost five matches on home soil. This recent defeat, if anything, will only strengthen their resolve. While Rohit appeared calm during the press conference and award ceremony, his mind was likely working overtime. Soon after, the team returned to their drills, preparing for the next challenge.
Changing Conditions for New Zealand
New Zealand should also be prepared for a stark change in conditions. Pune and Mumbai, where the remaining Tests will take place, won’t be as mild and rainy as Bengaluru. The red-soil pitches of central India are likely to turn sharply, making batting against India’s spinners a daunting task. If India opts for spin-friendly wickets, it could be a nightmare for New Zealand’s batters. Even their bowlers, who benefited from favourable conditions in Bengaluru, might struggle in the more challenging pitches ahead. India’s batters will also likely adopt a more aggressive approach.
Experience and Grit
India’s squad is filled with experienced players who have faced more formidable challenges in the past, and they’re unlikely to be discouraged by one defeat. Rohit himself cautioned against reacting too harshly to a single loss, calling it a “knee-jerk reaction” to criticize a team with such resilience. Even New Zealand captain Tom Latham acknowledged the importance of not celebrating too soon. “It’s great to celebrate a special win, but our focus will shift to Pune starting tomorrow,” he said with determination. For New Zealand, the real test begins now, as they aim to win their first series in India.
Conclusion
India may have lost the first Test, but history suggests that this is when they’re at their most dangerous. With the series still open and the conditions changing in their favour, New Zealand faces an uphill battle. For India, comebacks are a part of their DNA, and the upcoming matches will be crucial in shaping the outcome of this series.
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