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Not just one bad series: Gautam Gambhir's long list of historic humiliations
Gautam Gambhir's tenure sees India's cricketing dominance crumble, with a staggering 408-run defeat to South Africa marking a historic low.
South Africa’s crushing 408-run demolition of India in Guwahati has not merely concluded a series - it has cast an unforgiving glare on the Gautam Gambhir era. A side that once was regarded home Tests as an impregnable fortress has now accumulated a catalogue of “first time since...” and “biggest ever” distinctions that would unsettle any coach.
Here’s how the unwelcome dossier reads across formats following the latest capitulation.
Biggest Test defeat and first SA series win in 25 years
The 408-run massacre in Guwahati now stands as India’s heaviest Test defeat by runs, surpassing every previous margin in their history. It sealed a comprehensive 2-0 sweep and delivered South Africa their first Test series triumph in India since Hansie Cronje’s side achieved the feat in 2000.
First-ever 3-0 home Test whitewash
In October 2024, New Zealand orchestrated a stunning 3-0 clean sweep, marking their first instance India were whitewashed at home in a three-Test series and their home series defeat in 12 years. Among those defeats was the infamous 46-all out debacle in Bengaluru - India’s lowest Test total on home soil.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy lost after a decade
Australia’s 3-1 victory in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended India’s 10-year stranglehold on the contest and eliminated them from the WTC final race.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir refuses to step down as India’s head coach: 'I’m the same man who won the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup’
Back-to-back home series whitewashes
Combined, the 3-0 capitulation to New Zealand and 0-2 surrender against South Africa signify India have been whitewashed in successive home Test series - an inconceivable scenario even a few years ago for a side that once ruthlessly dominated visiting teams on turning tracks.
Only two Test series wins - both vs lower-ranked sides
Since Gautam Gambhir assumed charge, India’s solitary Test series victories have materialised against Bangladesh and the West Indies, both positioned well below them in the rankings. Every engagement against top-tier opposition - New Zealand at home, Australia away, South Africa at home - has culminated in defeat.
ODI series loss to Sri Lanka after 27 years
His first major white-ball assignment brought a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka - India’s first bilateral ODI series loss to them in 27 years. For a team used to treating that fixture as routine, it was a jarring early warning.
Winless ODI calendar year for the first time in 45 years
Because that Sri Lanka tour was India’s only ODI engagement of 2024, the 0-2 result meant they went through an entire year without a single ODI win - something that hadn’t happened since the late 1970s.
First time India lost all 30 wickets in a 3-match ODI Series
In that same series, India were bowled out in all three games, losing all 30 wickets - a first in their ODI history. Another example of the batting looking fragile under Gambhir whenever conditions have tilted even slightly in the bowlers’ favour.
Taken together, these numbers show why Guwahati is not a one-off meltdown and is more of the latest entry in a pattern. Under Gambhir, India still have high peaks in patches, but the statistical trail now reads like a charge-sheet of broken fortresses and squandered inheritances.
