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Gautam Gambhir | Source: X.com

India’s proud home Test run took another hit as South Africa sealed a 2-0 win, handing Gautam Gambhir his second clean sweep at home as head coach. The result has raised loud questions about India’s direction in red-ball cricket.

India once treated home Tests like a fortress. Since 2000, visiting teams rarely left with a smile. That comfort has disappeared this season. India have now lost five out of nine home Tests under Gambhir. No other Indian coach in the last 25 years has overseen anything close to this slide.

The defeat in Guwahati was especially painful. India lost by 408 runs, their biggest Test defeat in terms of balls. Fans watched in shock as the team folded inside three days, something that was unthinkable in earlier eras.

Gambhir’s numbers reflect the mood. A win-loss ratio of 0.80 and a win percentage of 44.4 percent put him below every Indian Test coach since 2000. Even Greg Chappell, who faced heavy criticism during his stint, had stronger figures.

Past coaches like Ravi Shastri, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Gary Kirsten, and Duncan Fletcher built strong home records. Shastri and Kumble were unbeaten in home Test series. Dravid lost only once at home. Gambhir, in comparison, already has two home series defeats and two clean sweeps against his name.

The concern is not just results, but the nature of the losses. India look unsure with selections, unsettled with roles, and unable to handle pressure moments. Senior players have struggled, younger players have not settled, and the team appears far from the sharp unit fans are used to.

Voices within cricket circles say the team needs clarity and stability. A former player noted that India “looked flat and reactive instead of dictating terms at home,” while another pointed out that “the aura of home dominance is slipping fast.”

Gambhir has asked for patience, stating that rebuilding takes time and that the team needs to trust the process. Fans, however, are already restless, especially with marquee tours coming up.

For now, the numbers tell the story. India’s home Test decline has reached a point not seen in two decades, and the pressure on Gambhir is only increasing.

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