Greats of Indian cricket have pulled no punches after Rohit Sharma’s side suffered a historic whitewash on home soil at the hands of New Zealand.
This has left many questioning whether some of the team’s veteran players have reached the end of their illustrious careers. India, who went into the three-Test series against the Black Caps as heavy favorites, were comprehensively outplayed and ultimately whitewashed 3-0.
The manner of the defeats will be of particular concern for Indian cricket fans, with the hosts struggling to compete against a New Zealand side that has not been in the best of form in recent times.
Legends of the game such as Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag did not hold back with their criticism, with both men lamenting the poor standard of cricket on display. Former India opener Gavaskar stated, 'looking at the way the batsmen batted and the bowlers bowled, it seems like they are going through a phase where they think only about the shorter formats.'
Sehwag, who is known for his forthright views on the game, took aim at the team’s underperforming veteran players, stating, 'the way we batted, bowled and fielded was not up to the mark. We lacked spark and X-factor in the middle order. At 40, you can’t jump or run around like you used to, so the seniors have to ask themselves whether they want to selflessly give up their places for the younger guys.'
This has sparked speculation that a number of senior players may have played their final Test on home soil, with Sehwag imploring them to consider their future in the game. 'It is high time that these legends look within and think about giving up their places,' Sehwag added.
The pressure is mounting on the senior selectors to make some tough decisions ahead of India’s next Test series, particularly given the manner of the whiplash. Time will tell if some of these Indian cricket legends will bow out, marking the end of an era.