IND vs NZ 2026: India's assistant coach calls for better show from spinners after Rajkot defeat

India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate feels the Indian spinners could have bowled better than they did in the second ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand. The duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav was able to pick up only one wicket in the 18 overs they bowled between each other.

Although ten Doeschate admitted that the spinners were not solely to blame for the defeat, he felt that their lengths could have been tighter to restrict the flow of runs.

“We probably want to bowl a little bit better than we did tonight. Particularly spinners, like you say, about lengths. But we'll go back and look at those lengths in more detail. But it's never just one reason for losing a game. There's a lot of different things going into that loss tonight,” stated ten Doeschate, as quoted by India Today.

Daryl Mitchell, who scored 50 runs off 32 balls against Kuldeep, commented on how he tackled the bowler.

“Kuldeep is one of the best bowlers in the world, he can turn it both ways. It was about adapting to different situations and finding different options against him,” noted Mitchell while receiving the Player of the Match award at the post-match ceremony.

Kuldeep was India's most expensive bowler in the match, conceding 82 runs in his quota. Although he managed to pick up a wicket, he seemed far from his best. Mitchell, in particular, looked at ease while facing him.

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Mitchell's 117-ball 131 comprised 11 fours and two sixes and it ended up overshadowing KL Rahul's effort in the first innings. Rahul, like Mitchell, had brought up his eighth ODI ton in the match which New Zealand ended up clinching by seven wickets and 15 deliveries. The series is now level at 1-1 and the third match is scheduled to be played in Indore on January 18.