New Delhi:
After India fell in the two‑match home Test series against South Africa, Parth Jindal vented his anger at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, calling the defeat a complete thrashing and saying it was the first time he’d seen the team that weak on home soil.
South Africa completed a historic sweep—India’s first home series loss in a decade and a quarter—crushing the hosts by 408 runs. The loss marked India’s biggest margin defeat at home and continued an unsettling trend of five defeats in seven home Tests following a 12‑year streak of unbeaten series (18 in total).
“Not even close, what a complete thrashing at home! Don’t remember seeing our test side being so weak at home!!! This is what happens when red ball specialists are not picked. This team is nowhere near reflective of the deep strength we possess in the red ball format. Time for India to move to a specialist red ball coach for Test cricket,” Jindal, the founder and director of JSW Sports—which owns the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL—posted on X.
India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, defended the management’s choices after the loss, stressing that every decision was made with the team’s best interests in mind and that hindsight should not judge past actions. He accepted responsibility for the defeat, reminding everyone that accountability resides within the dressing room.
When asked whether he was fit to remain as Test coach, Gambhir said the final call lies with the BCCI and that Indian cricket’s greater interests outweigh individual roles. He recounted his successes, including notable achievements with a young squad in England and earlier tournament wins such as the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup.
Gambhir also pointed out that the defeat to South Africa should not be weighed against India’s 3‑0 loss to New Zealand last year—a team that still had senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have since left the red‑ball format. He noted that the current group is much younger and needs more experience against strong opposition to grow.
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