Champions must learn to stay consistent

In a five-match series, once a team wins the first three encounters and seals the series, the remaining matches can often become a mere formality. The intensity tends to dip. However, when a World Champion team allows complacency to creep in, the consequences can be quite unforgiving. India discovered this rather painfully in New Zealand.

Having secured an unassailable 3-0 lead, India appeared to lower their guard in the fourth T20 International, experimenting with their team combination. New Zealand seized the opportunity and handed the visitors a crushing 87-run defeat. The margin could have been even more embarrassing had the Indian tailenders not swung their bats towards the end.

The fifth and final encounter consequently assumed considerable significance. New Zealand, buoyed by their emphatic fourth-match victory, were determined to finish the series on a high, while India had the responsibility of restoring their pride and preventing a second successive defeat.

Winning the toss for the first time in the series, New Zealand elected to field, putting India in to bat. The visitors managed a modest 193 for eight, a total that was clearly below par on a surface conducive to stroke-making. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer provided the principal contributions with their half-centuries, while Naman Dhir chipped in with a useful cameo. However, the rest of the batting line-up failed to make an impression.

Adam Milne was particularly impressive, dismantling the Indian batting order with a devastating spell of four wickets for just 19 runs. His pace, accuracy and ability to exploit the conditions exposed the vulnerabilities in India’s batting approach.

India’s bowling, however, proved equally disappointing. The marauding Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips took the attack to the visitors, demonstrating how comfortably New Zealand could dominate a bowling unit lacking penetration and control. The much-anticipated return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the national side also turned out to be a damp squib. The experienced campaigner struggled to make the desired impact, raising questions about the effectiveness of India’s bowling combination.

New Zealand completed another convincing victory, winning the final two matches after India had already secured the series with their first three wins.

For India, however, the series should prompt serious introspection. The overdependence on Sanju Samson, the uncertainty surrounding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s role and the inconsistency of the relatively inexperienced seamers are matters requiring attention. Nitish Reddy, too, remains a work in progress as an all-rounder and needs to develop greater consistency.

Winning a series is important, but sustaining performance across all five matches is what distinguishes a champion side. India’s World T20 crown may command respect, but reputations must be reinforced through performances on the field.

When the opponent is on the ropes, deliver the knockout punch. That is what champion teams do!

(Adirekven  is a senior journalist)