Guwahati: India suffered its worst ever Test defeat on Wednesday after losing to South Africa by 408 runs. While the Proteas clinched the series, 2-0, this was India’s fifth back-to-back Test match defeat on home soil.
Worst still, India slipped below Pakistan in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table. India is now in fifth position with Pakistan in fourth. Sri Lanka is now ranked third.
After Wednesday’s loss, India have have 48.15 PCT%. South Africa, on the other hand, have consolidated their No 2 position in the points table. They now have 75.00 PCT%.
Australia continue to lead the WTC 2025-27 points table. They have 100 PCT%. The 2023 WTC winners have won all four matches played so far in the ongoing WTC cycle.
Questions are already being asked after the Indian middle order crumbled yet again on Day 5 of the red-ball match at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Set a 549-run target by the Proteas, India could only manage 140 runs in 63.5 overs in the second innings. South African spinner Simon Harmer picked up six wickets and Keshav Maharaj accounted for the dismissal of 2 batters for 37 runs.
All that the Indian batters had to do to save the match was put their heads down and play out the South African bowling attack.
As former Indian cricket great Anil Kumble put it after the match, the track was difficult for batters, but Ravindra Jadeja showed that staying at the wicket was possible. Jadeja scored 54 of 87 balls before rushing a delivery by Maharaj and getting stumped.
This is India’s back-to-back losses in Test series on home soil. In 2024, New Zealand had trounced India 3-0.
