New Zealand skipper Tom Latham supported India captain Rohit Sharma after the host team lost the Test series against the visiting unit. Latham said that one defeat doesn’t make India a bad team.

New Zealand won the Pune Test by 113 runs, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. With this defeat, India are in danger of missing the ICC World Test Championship spot with six games left.

Rohit refused to take strict action and was slammed for saying that India were allowed to face a defeat in a series after 12 years.

Latham defended Rohit and said that he expects India to be at its best in the third and final Test in Mumbai. He added that while a lot happened on Day 3 of the match, he expected India to come harder at them.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put us under pressure and we knew it is going to be tough to take 10 Indian wickets,” he said.

“Action happened quickly on Day 3 but look, India are a quality side. They don’t become a bad team after losing just one series. India are full of match-winners but sometimes things don;t go your way. We know they will comeback stronger in Mumbai Test and we will be looking forward to their challenge,” he added.

Tom was a proud leader after New Zealand clinched their first-ever Test series win in India. “I am proud of the moment but am at a loss for words. A lot of New Zealand teams have come to India over 69 years, but to be a part of a squad that comes here and wins a Test series is special.”