Aakash Chopra has expressed his concerns about India’s recent struggles on spin-friendly pitches after Rohit Sharma's team suffered a crushing 0-3 defeat in the Test series against New Zealand.

The former cricketer turned commentator highlighted India’s inability to handle spin, particularly in home conditions where they are expected to excel.

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India faced a series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand, a rare event on their home turf. After a disappointing start in Bengaluru, where they lost the first Test, India opted for spin-heavy surfaces in Pune and Mumbai for the remaining two matches.

However, their performance continued to decline. Across four innings in these two Tests, India posted totals of 156, 245, 263, and a meager 121 in the final game.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra didn't hold back in his criticism, saying, "Now it feels like we should admit that we can't play spin. Let's be very, very honest, let's not beat around the bush. On flat tracks, we can play spin, but everybody can on a flat track. The only difference is that we play spin better than other teams on flat tracks and bowl better as well because our spinners have quality."

"If the track offers spin ever so slightly, then whether it is Pune or Wankhede in Mumbai, we fall short," he said, pointing to how New Zealand’s batsmen, despite not performing collectively, managed to play spin better than India..

He also addressed the tactics used by Indian batters, particularly their reliance on sweep and reverse sweep shots to counter spin. According to Chopra, these shots cannot be mastered quickly and require a lot of practice. "Neither we have confidence in spin, nor do we have control over our shots. We are trying sweeps, practicing it before the start of play every morning. But it's like learning a new language, my friend. If you don't know a language, it takes a lot of time to learn it," he explained.

Chopra pointed out that one of the key reasons for India’s recent struggles against spin is the lack of domestic cricket experience among the players. He argued that the focus on white-ball cricket has led to a decline in skills needed for playing on turning pitches. "We don't even remember when our main players last appeared in a first-class domestic match. So where are you going to practice?" Chopra questioned.