Former cricketers like Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad and Michael Vaughan have ripped into India, who lost to South Africa by 408 runs in the second Test of the series in Guwahati. The result meant India was handed a second clean sweep at home, after losing 0-3 to New Zealand, in just over 12 months.
"Today was abject surrender," Kumble said on Jio Hotstar.
"It required fight, some adjustments, some adaptability, just put your head down and bat. (Ravindra) Jadeja showed it … Very disappointing for India. If you look at the four innings, 83.5 overs was the maximum that they batted and that too because of Kuldeep and Washington Sundar partnership."
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While the pitch in Kolkata wasn't the easiest batting surface, there were no demons on the Guwahati track. South Africa batted with discipline and were able to pile on 489 runs in the first innings and declared the second on 260 for five. India, playing on home soil, were dismissed for 201 in the first and threw in the towel in the second, posting only 140 runs.
"The most under achieving Test team by a country mile at the moment is India.. #Fact," former England captain Vaughan posted on social media.
What also became apparent through the Test series against South Africa was that India did not have a clear plan. The batting order is in a flux and all-rounder are either over-rated or under-used.
'Poor tactics, poor skills, poor body language'
"Really disappointed by how India is going about in Test cricket," former India pacer Prasad wrote on social media.
"The all-rounder obsession is absolute brain-fade especially when you don't bowl them. Rank Poor tactics, poor skills, poor body language and an unprecedented 2 series white wash at home. Hope this does not get washed off with Test matches 9 months away and this negative approach changes."
With India jointly hosting the T20 World Cup 2026 with Sri Lanka in a few months, Test cricket will once again take a back seat. India resumes its quest to make the World Test Championship 2027 final in August 2026, when they tour Sri Lanka.
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