South Africa hammer India by 408 runs in 2nd test & whitewash series 2-0

 


After New Zealand in 2024, now South Africa in 2025. For the second year in a row, India have been thoroughly outplayed in a home Test series. In the second Test, India collapsed for just 140 in the final innings against the Proteas. After the Eden Gardens drubbing, Guwahati delivered an even harsher blow as India fell to a massive 408-run defeat. In every department—batting, bowling, fielding, and leadership—Team India looked overwhelmed. The proud aura of India’s home Test dominance sank helplessly in the waters of the Brahmaputra.

India were chasing the impossible on the final day—522 runs. But the real challenge was surviving 90 overs with eight wickets in hand. Given the current state of India’s batting, batting out a full day was always going to be a mountain to climb. And Rishabh Pant’s team proved exactly that, failing even to last till lunch. South Africa sealed a Test series win in India after 25 long years. Never before had India lost a home Test by such a huge margin.

Where did it all go wrong? The toss was beyond Pant’s control, but everything else—from team selection to bowling changes—was mishandled by the Indian think tank. Field placements were repeatedly flawed. Pant seemed clueless about who to bowl when. As a result, South Africa piled up 489 with ease. In reply, India folded for a mere 201. Not one batter showed the intent or discipline required to fight it out. Marco Jansen’s all-round performance was so commanding that confusing him with Shaun Pollock wouldn’t have been a stretch.

The pattern repeated in the second innings. South Africa swept and reverse-swept Kuldeep & Co. into submission, racking up another 260. Some wondered why they weren’t declaring earlier. But the quick fall of both Indian openers showed Temba Bavuma’s timing was perfect. With a target of 549, India ended Day 4 at 27 for 2. On Day 5, no one survived till lunch. Ravindra Jadeja (54) fought valiantly, but he needed support at the other end—someone who could at least hold up against spin. Sai Sudharsan (14) tried hard to stay there but his long vigil ended after lunch . Rishabh Pant (13), Dhruv Jurel (2), and others showed no signs of having learned from their first-innings failures. More worryingly, had they forgotten the basics of Test batting altogether? Each batter seemed to invent a new way of getting out. At the slightest turn or bounce, they felt compelled to edge to slip. Facing Simon Harmer (6/37) looked like a terrifying ordeal. What was Nitish Kumar Reddy’s (0) role in the side? Too many questions. No answers.

India lost 3–0 at home to New Zealand last year. Now a 2–0 defeat to South Africa. India have been whitewashed at home only three times in Test history—and two of those have come in the Gambhir era. The biggest home defeat margin is now on this team’s record as well.


Where will Gautam Gambhir take this directionless Indian cricket team next?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Desserts: Ssiat Hotteok - How to prepare this Korean pancake

Image
Ssiat Hotteok  is a variation of Hotteok , a popular Korean stuffed pancake. While traditional Hotteok is filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and peanuts, Ssiat Hotteok is unique to Busan , where it includes a crunchy filling of various seeds (most commonly sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and more) in addition to the sweet syrup. Hot, chewy on the outside and oozing with a nutty, sugary crunch on the inside, Ssiat Hotteok is especially popular in colder months and a must-try for food lovers visiting Korea. Ingredients For the Dough: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup glutinous rice flour (for chewiness) 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp instant dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water (more as needed) 2 tbsp milk (optional, for richer dough) 1 tbsp vegetable oil (plus more for frying) For the Filling: 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts (optional) For the Seed Mix: 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (hulled) 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds ...
Read more

Indian astronomer created stunning video capturing earth's rotation from Ladakh

Image
Indian astronomer Dorje Angchuk has created a mesmerizing time-lapse video capturing Earth's rotation from the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. As the engineer-in-charge at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Angchuk aspired to produce a complete 24-hour time-lapse showcasing the seamless transition between day and night. Although we do not perceive the Earth's movement in our daily lives, our planet is in constant motion—both spinning on its axis and orbiting the Sun. In his video, Earth’s rotation becomes evident while the Milky Way appears motionless in the background. Reflecting on the project, Angchuk remarked, “The stars remain still, but Earth never stops spinning,” underscoring the technical challenges he faced while bringing his vision to life. His initial goal was to capture the Orion constellation; however, its high placement in the sky, given Ladakh’s latitude, presented difficulties. The region’s extreme cold also posed significant obstacles, rapidl...
Read more

Top Five Thrilling Matches in ICC Champions Trophy History

Image
  The ICC Champions Trophy, which began in 1998, has often been referred to as the "Mini ODI World Cup." Over the years, this tournament has produced some unforgettable cricketing moments. Here’s a look at five of the most thrilling encounters in Champions Trophy history. 1. India vs South Africa (Semi-final, 2002) While Virender Sehwag was known for his explosive batting, it was his off-spin that turned the game in this semi-final against South Africa. India, batting first, posted 261/9, thanks to Sehwag’s 59 and Yuvraj Singh’s 62. In response, South Africa looked set for victory as Herschelle Gibbs (116) and Jacques Kallis (97) built a strong foundation. However, Gibbs' retirement due to injury triggered a collapse. Sehwag’s crucial wickets, including those of Kallis, Mark Boucher, and Lance Klusener, swung the game in India’s favor. From a commanding position at 191/1, South Africa fell short at 251/6, handing India a 10-run win. The final against Sri Lanka was unfo...
Read more