India's batting lineup faced sharp criticism following a disastrous performance in the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui, where the visitors were bundled out for just 89 runs. The 244-run defeat, which ranks as the second-heaviest loss in the team's ODI history, has sparked an urgent conversation regarding the side's inability to handle challenging conditions.
The collapse began almost immediately during the 334-run chase, with top-order stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer all departing for ducks within the opening over. The innings never found its footing, and the team was dismissed in under six overs, leaving head coach
Chopra calls for greater resilience against movement
Analysing the match, Aakash Chopra emphasised that while New Zealand’s bowling was high-quality, the Indian batters failed to show the necessary fight to survive the initial onslaught. Echoing Gambhir’s post-match sentiments, Chopra noted that the team simply cannot afford to surrender so easily when faced with testing conditions.
Chopra highlighted the performance of
Gambhir addresses recurring batting concerns
Head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to dismiss the performance as a one-off, pointing to a worrying trend in recent matches. He specifically referenced the second ODI, where India struggled significantly while chasing a modest target of 135, losing seven wickets before eventually securing a victory via the DLS method.
Gambhir stressed that these repeated batting failures are a genuine concern that the team must address both mentally and technically. Despite the heavy loss, India still holds a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The team will look to rectify these issues in the final ODI, which is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Sunday.
