We failed to respond to challenges: Rohit

After India lost a Test series at home for the first time in 12 years through a 113-run defeat to New Zealand here on Saturday giving the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead, skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that the result happened due to a collective failure as the team could not respond to the challenges thrown at them.

After losing by eight wickets in the first Test in Bengaluru, India needed to win the second game in Pune to keep their series-winning record intact at home. But Mitchell Santner’s match figures of 13-157, including triggering a collapse in India’s chase of 359, meant the hosts were bowled out for 245 on Day Three.

“Disappointing, as it’s not what we expected. I have to give credit to New Zealand - they played better than us. We failed to capitalise on certain moments. We failed to respond to those challenges thrown at us, and we sit here today with this result.”