After India was hammered by 408 runs by South Africa within the second Take a look at at Guwahati, head coach Gautam Gambhir confronted the media with blunt honesty. When requested if he nonetheless thinks he is the suitable man for India’s Take a look at staff, Gambhir did not dodge the query:
“The blame lies on the ft of everybody beginning with me. Begin prioritizing Take a look at cricket. If we would like Take a look at cricket to flourish in India, we’ve to collectively do it. Greater than the accountability it is in regards to the care. That is what a transition part is and younger gamers would study on the job,” Gambhir mentioned on the post-match press convention.
On Future
It’s as much as the BCCI to determine. I mentioned it in my first press convention once I took over as the top coach that Indian cricket is vital; And the Asia Cup as effectively. I’ve mentioned this earlier than as effectively, that they should continue learning and do the whole lot doable to show the tide.
He reminded everybody of India’s Champions Trophy triumph and the powerful 2-2 attract England earlier this 12 months, exhibiting he is accomplished it earlier than beneath strain.
Gambhir did not draw back from taking duty for the collapse: He slammed the staff’s second-innings meltdown:
“We have to play higher. From 95/1 to 122/7 shouldn’t be acceptable. You do not blame any particular person or any specific shot. Blame lies with everybody. I by no means blamed people and will not do it going ahead.”
The numbers make for grim studying. India’s 0-2 loss to South Africa provides to a worrying dwelling pattern:
Clear-sweeps for India in Checks at dwelling
0-2 vs SA, 2000
0-3 vs NZ, 2024
0-2 vs SA, 2025
Residence sequence for India with no particular person hundred
vs NZ, 1969/70
vs NZ, 1995/96
vs SA, 2025/26
In these two latest video games, Indian batters averaged simply 15.23—the second-lowest for them in any Take a look at sequence, after 12.42 on the 2002/03 New Zealand tour.
India’s greatest Take a look at defeats (by runs)
408 runs vs SA, Guwahati, 2025
342 runs vs AUS, Nagpur, 2004
341 runs vs PAK, Karachi, 2006
337 runs vs AUS, Melbourne, 2007
333 runs vs AUS, Pune, 2017
329 runs vs SA, Kolkata, 1996
For South Africa, this was their second-biggest victory margin in India by runs, after 492 in opposition to Australia in Johannesburg, 2018. It additionally marks solely their second Take a look at sequence win in India, the primary being a 2-0 sweep beneath Hansie Cronje in 2000.
India’s two dwelling sequence losses in two years—0-3 vs New Zealand in 2024 and 0-2 vs South Africa now—stand out in historical past. For the reason that 0-2 drubbing by South Africa in 2000, India had misplaced solely two dwelling sequence earlier than final 12 months: in opposition to Australia in 2004 and England in 2012.