Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull said it was a "myth" that Indian batters played spin better than anyone else, after the woeful showing by Indian batters in the second Test against the Kiwis in Pune.
India were bowled over for 156 in the first innings as spin sensation Mitchell Santner returned with career-best figures of 7-53. It was a first day that will weigh heavily on the minds of Indian players as they lost nine wickets to spin, including senior players Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
One consecutive batting collapse cast doubts over the ability of India to withstand spinners. In the first innings of the opening Test in Bengaluru, India were knocked out for 46 and eventually ended up losing the match by eight wickets.
Doull claimed that those days were over when Indian batters—Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman, and Rahul Dravid—sweated to extract their money off Indian soil on a given day. He added that any quality spin attack can now challenge them at home.
"I think now it's a misconception around the world that these modern Indian players are better playing spin than anyone else. They're not. They're the same as everyone else around the world. Gone are the days of Ganguly, Gambhir, Laxman, and Dravid. Sachin was so, so good against spin, and the era before them. I think good quality spinners are just as good as getting India out on turning tracks as Indian spinners against good quality opposition batters. And the moment they see a turning track in IPL, they complain," Doull said in a conversation with JioCinema during the lunch break on Friday.
Earlier, Washington Sundar claimed a seven-wicket haul while Ravichandran Ashwin bagged three scalps to all out New Zealand for 259 in the first innings on Thursday.
Read also| Santner Stars as NZ Bowls Out India for 156, Securing 103-Run Lead, 2nd Test
Read also| India Ends Day at 16/1 After Washington's 7-59 Bowls Out New Zealand for 259, 2nd Test
