Despite Team India's 3-0 loss, New Zealand captain Tom Latham feels Rohit Sharma and Co have no weakness

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham came to Team India’s defence on Thursday after the Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home at their hands, saying “they certainly don’t become a bad team overnight”, backing them to return to winning ways soon.

“Indian cricket in general is really special. We’ve played against them a lot. The guys play with them at the IPL. They were certainly gracious in defeat and they’re still a quality side.

“They certainly don’t become a bad team overnight and I’m sure they’ll turn things around in time,” Latham said after his arrival back home in New Zealand along with the rest of the history-making team.

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Before their arrival last month, the Black Caps had not won a Test on Indian soil since 1988. However, a little over two weeks later, not only would they defeat India in a Test in India, they would end up registering their first-ever series win in this part of the world.

The Indian team, on the other hand, have faced a barrage of criticism after suffering their first Test series loss at home since 2012, which brought their streak of 18 consecutive home Test series wins to an end.

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As for New Zealand, it was a superb comeback for a team that had suffered a 0-2 sweep at the hands of Sri Lanka ahead of the series in India. Putting the consecutive defeats in Galle behind, New Zealand would not only defeat India by 8 wickets in Bengaluru after bowling the hosts out for 46, they would go on to clinch the series in Pune with a 113-run victory.

India would then collapse to a 25-run defeat in the third Test in Mumbai despite collecting a 28-run first innings lead, suffering a series sweep in a Test series containing three or matches at home for the first time ever.

“When we were in Sri Lanka a few weeks, where things didn’t necessarily go our way, so, I think it makes these times extra special when you’re able to achieve something that hasn’t been achieved before.

“It is just about enjoying everyone’s company, celebrating together. We had a couple of extra days to recover over there, so that was great,” added Latham, who had starred in the victory in Pune with a superb knock of 86 in the second innings.

New Zealand face England in a three-Test series at home next, and will need to win it 3-0 or 2-1 to qualify for the WTC final for the second time, having won the inaugural edition in 2021.

India, meanwhile, travel to Australia to a five-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next, and will need to win the series 4-0 or better to directly qualify for the summit clash that will take place at Lord’s in June 2025.