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STUMP VISION DECEMBER 05, 2025 | The Indian Eye 42

SOUTH AFRICA

How India Lost the Test Series:

A COLLAPSE OF TECHNIQUE,

TEMPERAMENT AND IDENTITY

India’s 0–2 home whitewash against South Africa reveals not just a team outplayed,

but a deeper unraveling of its Test cricket identity

OUR BUREAU
Kolkata / Guwahati
or years, touring teams arrived
in India with trepidation. Even
Fthe best in the world came pre-
pared for bruising battles on turning
tracks, where Indian spinners tight-
ened nooses and batters piled up
marathon scores. Winning even a sin-
gle Test on Indian soil was considered
an achievement. Winning a series
was almost unthinkable. And yet, as
South Africa walked out of Guwahati
with a 2–0 series triumph — their first
Test series win in India since Hansie
Cronje’s side in 2000 — it became
clear that the aura has melted away.
The old fortress hasn’t just cracked; it
has collapsed.
The final day in Guwahati
summed up India’s current predica-
ment with painful clarity. South Afri-
ca wrapped up a massive 408-run vic-
tory, completing a clean sweep that
was commanding in its method and
crushing in its impact. This was no
upset. No fluke. No one-off failure. It South Africa’s Tony De Zorzi, Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne celebrate the wicket of Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar during the fifth
was the second straight home white- day of the second test match between India and South Africa at ACA Stadium, in Guwahati (ANI)
wash for India under head coach
Gautam Gambhir, following the 0–3
humiliation against New Zealand Much of that became evident in with 83 runs, KL Rahul with 68, Rish- 72 valuable runs, with Kuldeep’s 19
last year. For a team that once went the numbers. Indian batters averaged abh Pant with 49. It was not just a run off 134 balls standing out as a rare
12 years without losing a single series a mere 15.23 across the two Tests — shortage; it was an identity crisis. instance of grit. But 201 was never
at home, the descent has been swift the second-lowest batting average The Guwahati Test offered a going to be enough. And it wasn’t.
and unforgiving. India has ever recorded in a home microcosm of that unraveling. India South Africa, meanwhile,
From the opening session of series. They did not produce a single began the match with a promising 65- showed India how Test cricket is
the series to the final wicket in Gu- century, a rarity that has occurred run opening stand, only for another supposed to be played. They batted
wahati, South Africa were the more only twice before in the last 55 years. dramatic collapse to follow. They slid with composure, clarity, and a level
disciplined side, the more thoughtful Their highest run-scorer was Wash- from 65 for no loss to 122 for seven of application missing in India’s in-
side, the more emotionally settled ington Sundar, an all-rounder. Their in a matter of overs — soft dismiss- nings. Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden
side. India, in contrast, resembled a second-highest was Ravindra Jadeja, als, indecision outside off-stump, an Test ton, Tristan Stubbs’ solid 94, and
team stuck between eras, struggling another all-rounder. The specialist inability to counter Marco Jansen’s Jansen’s counterattacking 93 pushed
with its technique, confused about its batters, the engine room supposed steepling bounce and Simon Harm- the total to 489, effectively taking the
plans, and increasingly unsure of its to carry the weight of home expec- er’s guile. Only Sundar and Kuldeep match beyond India’s reach. Even
identity in the longest format. tations, all faltered: Yashasvi Jaiswal Yadav provided resistance, adding Continued on next page... >>

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