MUMBAI, Nov 3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - India captain Rohit Sharma said Sunday their
3-0 Test drubbing by New Zealand was a career "low point" but promised a
turnaround in the upcoming Australia tour.

The hosts went down by 25 runs in the third Test inside three days at Mumbai,
only their second series whitewash at home.

Rohit's team, heavy favourites before the series, failed to chase 147 and
were all out for 121.

"This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at
home," said Rohit.

"I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the
best of my abilities right from the start of the series. With the bat as
well, I have not been good enough."

India will now travel to Australia for five Tests, starting in Perth on
November 22.

India won 2-1 against Australia on their last two Test tours.

"Australia is not an easy place to play cricket, but we can take a lot of
confidence from how we played in the last two series in Australia," Rohit
said.

"In the back of our mind, we have to think like that -- the Australia series
for us is now very, very important."

India have slipped to second in the World Test Championship table, now led by
Australia.

India will need four wins in Australia to keep the chances of making next
year's final at Lord's.

Rohit's own form is a worry, out cheaply on Sunday for 11 and scoring only 1
runs from six innings in the series.

Virat Kohli also flopped with the bat, scoring just one fifty with four
single-digit scores. He was out for one to Ajaz Patel in the final chase.

"If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern. But what's
done is done now," said Rohit.

"I think as a player, as a captain, as a team, we all have to look forward
and see how we can correct what we didn't manage to achieve here," he added.

"There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really
special in Australia."

Rohit may sit out the first two matches for "personal reasons", according to
Indian media reports.

"Right now, I am not too sure whether I will be going (for the opening
match)," Rohit said. "But let's see. Fingers crossed."