Head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed deep concern after New Zealand bowled India out for 89 in the fourth ODI, triggering a crushing 244-run defeat on Friday.
Gambhir noted that the recurring batting collapse occurred in seam-friendly conditions similar to what India will face at next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir admitted that the rapid pace of the dismissal worried him far more than the low total itself.
“You’re always concerned when you get bundled out for 90-odd,” Gambhir stated, acknowledging that the local pitches closely mirror upcoming World Cup conditions.
He emphasized that losing all ten wickets inside 27 overs exposed severe vulnerabilities that the team must urgently address before the global tournament.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand posted 333 all out in 50 overs before pacer Matt Henry claimed six wickets to demolish India in 26.4 overs.
This batting failure followed another shaky outing in the previous rain-curtailed match, where India stumbled to 111 for seven while chasing a modest target of 135.
Consequently, Gambhir urged his batters to build stronger technical and mental resilience when facing the moving ball in overseas conditions.
He explained that surviving the first ten overs in New Zealand demands immense discipline, unlike on home pitches where batting starts easily.
“If you get 35 or 40 in the first 10 overs without losing a wicket, that is also good enough,” Gambhir remarked about navigating the difficult opening spell.
Furthermore, the coach stressed that Indian batters must show sharper footwork and decisiveness against the awkward lengths bowled by Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson.
He concluded that hesitating between playing forward and moving onto the back foot repeatedly cost the visitors their wickets against the disciplined New Zealand pace attack.
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