 "Indian cricket team fans questioned Gautam Gambhir’s coaching skills as the team was clean swept at home by South Africa. Images: PTI/AP")
Team India were thumped to another series-sweep defeat at home as South Africa won the second Test in Guwahati by a massive 408 runs to seal a memorable 2-0 victory on Wednesday. This is India’s largest Test defeat by runs and South Africa’s second Test series win in India. South Africa had won the first match of the series by 30 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, laying the foundation for their first Test series win in India in 25 years.
Meanwhile, India have now been swept in a Test series for the second time in the last 12 months. They had lost 3-0 to New Zealand in October-November 2024, which was the first time India were whitewashed 3-0 in a Test series at home.
South Africa embarrass India on batting pitch in Guwahati
While the defeat in Kolkata came on a dust bowl, it was a shambolic loss for Team India in Guwahati, which was hosting its first five-day international game. The pitch was largely batting-friendly as South Africa scored 489 and 260/5 declared in their two innings, but Indian batters were unable to tackle the off-spin of Simon Harmer and the short-ball bowling from Marco Jansen.
Harmer and Jansen took 16 wickets together, registering a six-for each as India were bowled out for 140 in the final innings, chasing 549. They were bowled out for 201 in their first innings.
India began Day 5 on 27/2 with Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav at the crease. That partnership was broken in the eighth over of the day as Harmer dismissed Kuldeep before removing Dhruv Jurel for a duck. Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant fell for just 13 to Harmer before Sai Sudharsan was dismissed by Senuran Muthusamy.
The next four wickets fell soon after, with Ravindra Jadeja being the only one to show some real resistance with a hard-fought 54 off 87.
Fans, experts slams Team India, Gautam Gambhir
Naturally, some sharp and stinging reactions were seen on social media after India’s another series loss at home.
Former cricketer R Ashwin praised the South African side, saying the Proteas have underlined that they are the world champions in the Test format.
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View All“Huge huge achievement for the proteas, they have put their stamp of authority and showed why they are the deserved holders of the WTC title,” Ashwin wrote on X.
His former Indian teammate, Subramaniam Badrinath, was quite critical as he said that “The better team won.”
The Indian cricket team fans targeted coach Gautam Gambhir for the decline of the Test team as they felt the changes to the squad and team strategy had backfired.
“Shame shame shame…. Gautam Gambhir and his arrogance should be sacked immediately….pathetic coaching…. He was never a coach but why the hell BCCI chose him as a coach…. The whole coaching staff should be sacked,” a fan wrote on X.
Another fan said: “SACK COACH GAUTAM GAMBHIR AND SELECTOR AJIT AGARKAR.”
“Under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching, India has won just 1 out of the last 5 Test series. It’s a dark era for Indian cricket,” added a fan.
An Indian cricket team supporter said that Gambhir may soon step down from the coaching role in Test cricket.
“I am getting a feeling that Gautam Gambhir will step down as a test coaching role.”
Under Gambhir, India have lost Test series to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, while winning only against lower-ranked teams like Bangladesh and West Indies.