Team India's humiliating 408-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati has put both team and its head coach Gautam Gambhir under fire.
India’s biggest SA defeat sparks tough questions over Gambhir’s Test record
This record loss, which cost them the series 0-2, marked the team's tenth Test defeat since Gambhir took charge last year. Over his 18 Tests in charge, India has registered only 7 wins, alongside 9 losses and 2 draws, resulting in a modest 38.9 per cent overall win rate. Gambhir's record stands out poorly when compared to his peers over the last 25 years. Among Indian Test coaches who have overseen at least 15 matches, his win percentage is the second worst, marginally better only than Duncan Fletcher's 33.3 per cent. Even Greg Chappell, often cited as one of India's most controversial coaches, achieved a better win percentage than Gambhir; between 2005 and 2007, Chappell oversaw 18 matches, securing seven wins and seven draws, with only four losses. Historically, only three full-time India coaches have managed to finish their tenure with a win percentage of 50 or more.
Anil Kumble leads the chart among Indian Test coaches who have overseen at least 15 matches, boasting an outstanding 70.6 per cent win rate. During his tenure from 2016-2017, he was in charge of 17 Tests, securing 12 wins, only 1 loss, and 4 draws. Ravi Shastri's period (2017-2021) also saw great success, with a strong 58.1 per cent win rate from 43 Tests (25 wins, 13 losses, 5 draws), which included landmark overseas victories. Rahul Dravid (2021-2024) maintained this elite standard, coaching 24 Tests to secure a slightly higher 58.3 per cent win rate, with 14 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws.
India record worst-ever Test loss against South Africa
The stark contrast to these golden eras is highlighted by Wednesday's loss in Guwahati. The 408-run defeat against South Africa stands as India's worst-ever Test loss in terms of runs, regardless of whether it was played home or away. Furthermore, this was the second time in just 13 months that India suffered a home series whitewash, severely damaging their prospects of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. This recent collapse is a historical aberration. Prior to the New Zealand series last year, India had lost only two home series since the 0-2 drubbing by South Africa in 2000: against Australia in 2004 and against England in 2012. The fact that India has now lost two Test series at home across consecutive years is a worrying trend not seen for more than four decades, dating back to the defeats against West Indies (1983) and England (1984/85).