India suffered a humiliating batting collapse, being bowled out for just 89 runs in the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Thursday. The visitors, who currently lead the five-match series 2-1, were skittled out in a manner that has raised serious questions about their batting depth, prompting head coach Gautam Gambhir to voice his concerns.

Batting Collapse at Mount Maunganui

After winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Bay Oval, the Indian batting lineup had no answer to the disciplined and incisive bowling attack of New Zealand. The entire team was dismissed for a meager 89 runs, marking one of the most embarrassing scores for India in recent ODI history.

This collapse follows a similar pattern from the second ODI of the series, where India slipped to 111-7 while chasing a modest target of 135 in a rain-affected match. India narrowly won that game via the DLS method, but the underlying weakness in the batting order was fully exposed today.

Gambhir's Reaction

Following the disastrous performance, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed his wariness over the team's repeated batting failures. He pointed out that neither the top order nor the middle order managed to play a responsible innings under challenging conditions.

Gambhir acknowledged that the pitch at Mount Maunganui offered assistance to the bowlers, with the ball holding up off the surface. However, he maintained that being bowled out for 89 is simply not acceptable at this level and highlighted the lack of depth in the batting lineup as a major area of concern.

Series Context

India still hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, but this heavy defeat has complicated the equation. With the series now finely poised, India will need to regroup quickly to avoid letting the advantage slip away in the remaining matches.

The New Zealand bowlers executed their plans to perfection, using swing and bounce with the new ball to dismantle the Indian top order. The hosts' clinical performance has put India under significant pressure heading into the next game.

Next Steps

The Indian team management now faces crucial decisions ahead of the next ODI. Whether to reshuffle the batting order or bring in fresh faces remains to be seen. To keep the series alive, India must find a way to overcome this setback and address the recurring issue of batting collapses.