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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit's team, heavy favourites before the series, failed to chase 147 and were all out for 121.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home," said Rohit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India will now travel to Australia for five Tests, starting in Perth on November 22.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India won 2-1 against Australia on their last two Test tours.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"In the back of our mind, we have to think like that -- the Australia series for us is now very, very important."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India have slipped to second in the World Test Championship table, now led by Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India will need four wins in Australia to keep the chances of making next year's final at Lord's.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit's own form is a worry, out cheaply on Sunday for 11 and scoring only 1 runs from six innings in the series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern. But what's done is done now," said Rohit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really special in Australia."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit may sit out the first two matches for "personal reasons", according to Indian media reports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n