Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has criticised India for losing the home Test series against New Zealand. The visitors won the second Test by 113 runs at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series. It was India’s first Test series defeat on home soil since 2012.

New Zealand came to the series having lost to Sri Lanka by 0-2 in the red-ball assignment and were looking for answers. However, the visitors showed their skills and talent in Bengaluru and Pune and didn’t give Rohit Sharma’s team a chance.

Basit accused India of being overconfident as New Zealand were on a losing streak.

“India had defeated Bangladesh and New Zealand went down against Sri Lanka. India thought they would have an easy outing against the Kiwis. The players and the support staff were overconfident. New Zealand executed their plans to perfection and stunned India. No one, including New Zealand, thought that they would clinch a Test series in India. But they did their homework,” he said.

Basit also expressed his disappointment at Mohammed Shami’s absence from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and wanted to see left-armer Arshdeep Singh in the Test team.

“You will put all the load on Jasprit Bumrah as there is no Mohammed Shami. Arshdeep Singh would have been a welcoming addition but even he was not given a chance. Without Shami, India will face problems. Fast bowles are needed in Australia and India will face problems Down Under,” he added.

India’s hopes of reaching the third consecutive WTC final have been dashed after losing to New Zealand.