IF past record is not an evidence what is evidence for you? Your imagination only?
Especially when the series happened only one year ago. Sharma averaged 33 at a SR of 71. His struggle against movement is well known.
Scores of 87 and 62 in a low scoring 5 match series is hardly a failure. He still outscored all New Zealand batsmen except Taylor.
There are clear differences between this series and the last year one. Just look at the scores:
2020:
1st ODI: 347, 348
2nd ODI: 273, 251
3rd ODI: 296, 300
2019:
1st ODI: NZ was dismissed for 157
2nd ODI: 324, 234
3rd ODI: 243, 245/3
4th ODI: India was dismissed for 92
5th ODI: 252, 217
In the 2019 series last year, the average first innings score was 213.
Only once was a team able to score 260+ in the first innings.
Teams were dismissed for less than 200 twice, and the lowest first innings score was 92.
In the series that finished today:
The average first innings score was 305, almost 100 runs more than last year.
The lowest first innings total was 273.
Neither team was dismissed for less than 250 in any innings.
The above stats clearly reflect that this series was very batting-friendly, unless you want to admit that India apart from Rohit are so good in swinging conditions that they managed to score 347.
If the conditions were flat, how many would they have scored?
Similarly, if this series was played in swinging conditions where Rohit would have struggled, then India and New Zealand must be the best batting sides in the world against swing, if they could manage an average first innings score of 305, in conditions where Rohit wouldn’t have been able to put bat on ball.
So you have two choices. Either admit with great pain that India is so good against swing that they scored 347 and 296 in swinging conditions while batting first,
OR
India clearly missed Rohit Sharma because he has time and time again proved himself to be a devastating batsman on 300+ pitches.
So in conclusion, it is very clear that the narrative that the conditions were too hard for batting does not hold up looking at the scores, unless you want to admit that India is so good against swing that they managed to score 347 and 296 while batting first.
The 2019 series was played in swinging conditions and Rohit “cannot play swing” Sharma outperformed Kane “Fab 4” Williamson.
That is what happens when you view everything with your Indophobic lens. You end up in a tangle because of your own contradictory logic.
[MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION]
This post also addresses your assumption that Rohit would have been a walking wicket in this series. Clearly, facts say otherwise.