Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble has expressed his disappointment and frustration over India's dismal batting performance that led to a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series. After two consecutive defeats in the first two Tests, India was expected to bounce back in the third and final Test in Mumbai, but they fell short once again, losing by 25 runs and completing a humiliating series loss at home.

Speaking on Jio Cinema after the final Test, Kumble minced no words as he blamed India's repeated top-order collapses for their downfall.

"I think the pitch got to the heads of the Indian batters," Kumble remarked, adding that the team’s mental approach was a significant factor in their failure. "The top order not even batting a session throughout the series, except for that one partnership in Bangalore in the second innings. Other than that, you know, in five innings to sort of just go through a batting lineup like India's in one session says a lot about the approach and attitude."

Kumble highlighted that India's inability to chase down a modest target of 147 in Mumbai's spin-friendly conditions was a testament to their struggles. The Indian batting lineup collapsed in key moments throughout the series, allowing New Zealand to dominate on Indian soil.

"One team that has been really good travelers when they come to India has been the Kiwis," Kumble said, praising New Zealand's ability to adapt to the challenging conditions. "Everybody has a good soft word and nice word about the Kiwis, but this was a performance where New Zealand dominated the series. Yes, the win was just by 25 runs, but the way they went about countering the pitches, the conditions, and the bowling deserves credit."

When asked if India needed to introspect and reconsider their approach, Kumble emphasized the importance of reflection. "It's about time. If not before the start of this Test match, then certainly now. India needs to respect and understand what kind of surfaces they should be playing on," he noted. Kumble suggested that New Zealand's superior preparation allowed them to outplay India on spinning tracks, which were expected to favor the hosts.