400-run defeat and second series whitewash in 12 months; record now worse than Pakistan

South Africa kept a clean sheet against India by winning the two-Test match series 2-0. On Day 5 of the Guwahati Test, the Indian team, chasing a daunting target of 549 runs, fell short by just 140 runs in their second innings. This resulted in South Africa claiming victory by 408 runs. Notably, this was the first time in India’s 93-year Test history that they lost by a margin exceeding 400 runs.

This defeat represents the Indian team’s fifth defeat in the last seven Tests played on home soil last year. During this period, India achieved a clean sweep at home twice. In October-November 2024, New Zealand defeated India in a three-Test series with a 3-0 victory.

The Indian team, once seen as an invincible force on home soil, has now become one of the weakest teams in the world on home soil. Pakistan has outperformed India in the last 13 months and only Zimbabwe has recorded more home losses than India during this period.

Since October 2024, the Indian team has participated in three home series. They lost 3-0 to New Zealand and 2-0 to South Africa. Between these two series, India managed to achieve two victories against the West Indies. As a result, India suffered defeat in 5 out of 7 home tests.

Pakistan’s performance surpassed India’s

Pakistan, traditionally seen as a weaker side compared to Team India in all formats, has performed superbly on home soil in the last 13 months. During this period Pakistan played 7 Test matches at home, winning 4 and losing only 3.

In the last series against the same South African team that gave India a clean sweep, Pakistan managed to draw the series 1-1 at home last month. While Pakistan won the first match of the two-Test series, South Africa claimed victory in the second Test. In stark contrast to India’s one-sided defeat against South Africa, both matches were closely contested.

Gautam Gambhir’s coaching style hasn’t garnered much admiration

Since taking over as coach, the team’s performance in Test matches has been below par. Results on home soil were particularly disappointing. Gambhir seems to prefer all-rounders over specialist players, but these all-rounders are struggling in both the batting and bowling departments. Only three specialist batsmen featured in the Indian side in the two Tests against South Africa.

A major problem for the Indian team is the batsmen’s inability to handle both pace and spin bowling. During the South Africa series, India lost a total of 38 wickets in two Tests; 13 were claimed by fast bowlers and 25 by spinners. Additionally, Captain Shubman Gill was unable to take part in both the innings due to neck spasm, further weakening the innings.

Also read| South Africa’s 408-run win over India in Guwahati set a new world record and became the first team to achieve THE feat