New Zealand loss might awaken the ‘sleeping giant’ India: Josh Hazlewood

While everyone expected India to breeze past New Zealand in the three-match Test series, what prevailed was exactly the opposite. New Zealand put up a spirited display, not once but in all the three Tests, to punch India the hardest in Test cricket at home. It was the first-ever whitewash for India in a home Test series (min 3 matches).

Of course, such a loss will always have its repercussions, and Australian quick Josh Hazlewood believes that the whitewash might awaken the ‘sleeping giant’ India. 

“It might awaken a sleeping giant, so to speak,” Test quick Hazlewood told The Sydney Morning Herald. 

However, Hazlewood was also quick in pointing out that there are a few batters in the Indian setup who haven’t come out of the series in good shape. A case in point is the duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have endured a nightmare, with the Indian skipper averaging just 15.16 whilst Kohli’s troubles against spin continued. 

Also Read: Virat Kohli: A master burdened by his shortcomings

“We’ll see that when they come out. It’s obviously better for them losing 3-0 than winning 3-0, easily. The confidence might have taken a bit of a hit. A lot of them have been out here, but there’s a few batters who haven’t, so they’ll be a bit unsure of what to expect. I don’t think you can read too much into it. The results are obviously good for us in a way,” he added. 

“Credit to the Kiwi boys. They played outstanding cricket. To win 3-0 in India is unbelievable. It’s hard enough to win one game there, let alone every match of the series.”

Hazlewood, himself, returned to red-ball cricket for the first time in a long time, enduring quite a tough return, going wicketless in his spell. 

“I pretty much got out what I needed … very happy with how I bowled,” Hazlewood said. 

“Body felt surprisingly good. The longer I went, I think, the better that I felt, and the rhythm was there.”

On the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Hazlewood stated that there’s a talk that it could be the ‘biggest-ever’ Test series in terms of TV ratings. 

“Everything’s falling into place,” he said. 

“It’s just a huge series. Every time we play India, it’s right up there with the Ashes. I think the crowds will be massive. I think the TV ratings could be huge. [There is talk] it could be the biggest ever.”

The five-match Test series between Australia and India begins on November 22 in Perth.

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