The Indian attack does not befit the side's World No. 1 status. The lack of thrust has been conspicuous. A determined New Zealand side has been able to not only keep the Indian bowling at bay but also, in crucial phases, dominate it.
The Indians' body language on the field was not aggressive. A top-ranked Test outfit has to impose itself on the opponent.
The Kiwi side, expected to be swept away by many, came close to winning the first Test and forced an honourable draw in the second.
New Zealand's totals — of 459, 22 for one, 350 and 448 for eight declared in the series — tell the story. Penetration has been the missing element in the Indian bowling.
Much focus has been on the pitches for the first two Tests. Although the surfaces favoured the batsmen, they cannot be termed flat tracks. It has become fashionable these days to dub a pitch lifeless if it fails to produce a result.
At Motera, there were a few areas around the bat that could have been exploited by the spinners. And at Uppal, there was good bounce for the bowlers all through the five days.
Had the wickets been so barren, a result could not have been a distinct possibility going into the last day of both the Tests.
In the first Test, India battled to force a draw. It was the other way round in the second with the Kiwis shutting the door on the host.
Wanted: strike spinner
Harbhajan Singh is in the form of his life with the bat. He has 295 runs in the series at an awesome 147.50 with two history-making back-to-back centuries at No. 8. And his runs arrived when the team needed them.
However, is he living up to his more important role as the spin spearhead following the departure of the formidable Anil Kumble? India needs Harbhajan, the match-winner.
Someone with 374 Test scalps should not be too dependent on the surfaces. Guile is a key attribute for a spinner. Harbhajan's last five-wicket innings haul (five for 59) came against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in February this year.
Subsequently, his returns have been 0-98 & 0-24 at Galle, 1-147 & 1-35 in Colombo (both against Sri Lanka), 3-114 & 2-40 at Mohali and 4-148 & 2-63 in Bangalore (both against Australia), 1-112 in Ahmedabad and 4-76 & 1-117 at Hyderabad in the ongoing series.
While the experienced off-spinner has been useful on certain occasions, he has certainly not lived up to his billing as the strike spinner in the line-up.
There was bounce for him to exploit in the second Test and Harbhajan did show signs of a return to form in the first innings. However, he was ordinary in the second and his length did come under scrutiny. Flight, revolution and a telling off-stump line with subtle variations were absent.
Not creating pressure
Test cricket is much about persistent pressure from both the ends. Even if the surface favours the batsman, denial of runs can create stress leading to dismissals.
But then, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson were able to score runs with freedom in the critical first session of the fifth day here. It was almost as if pressure did not exist.
Left-armer Pragyan Ojha is still a work-in-progress. And the inability to deliver a potent arm ball is making him predictable.
The Indian bowling averages in the series so far are revealing. Ojha has seven wickets at 46.42 and Harbhajan six at 50.83. S. Sreesanth, luckless on the few occasions when he moved the ball, has six at 50.16.
In fact, India's best bowler Zaheer Khan — seven wickets at 23.85 — will be missing from the third Test because of a groin strain. In the absence of the crafty left-arm paceman, the attack could be stretched further.
India also seeks a genuine fast bowler, who can consistently bowl around the 150-kmph mark, to strike or unsettle the opponent. And we are not talking about medium-pacers who bowl the odd sharp delivery here. Air-speed can make a difference, on any surface.
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