India slip to fifth in WTC standings after series loss against South Africa
New Delhi, Nov 26 – India’s world‑test fortunes took a hit after a 2‑0 series defeat by South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship 2025‑27, with the hosts heading home on an 408‑run loss in the second test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
The win was a rare triumph for South Africa on Indian soil, only their second Test series success at home since 2000. The 408‑run margin of defeat remains India’s biggest loss in Test history and dents the country’s early campaign in the WTC cycle.
In the standings the picture flipped dramatically. South Africa’s emphatic win pushed them to 36 points from four games, giving a 75 % points percentage and tightening their grip near the top of the table. They now sit just behind Australia in the hunt for the title.
India, meanwhile, slipped down to fifth place, overtaken by Pakistan, and their points‑per‑match ratio dropped to 48.15.
The second‑test decider in Guwahati began with some uncertainty for the hosts, but the South African batting display took control. Senuran Muthusamy’s gritty 109 and Marco Jansen’s 93 lifted the first‑innings score to a daunting 489. Jansen followed up with a powerful bowling spell, capturing six wickets for 48 runs, while India were limited to 201.
Choosing to bat again instead of enforcing a follow‑on, South Africa added an additional 260 runs for five wickets before declaring, with Tristan Stubbs’ steady 94 heading the innings.
Off‑spinner Simon Harmer—who already made headlines in the opening test at Kolkata—put on another masterclass on the final day, taking 3/64 earlier and finishing with 6/37 to dismantle the Indian batting line‑up.
India’s top‑order tried to rally, with Sai Sudarshan and Ravi Jadeja keeping the crisis in check, but Jadeja’s best score of 54 was not enough to steady the ship. The middle overs saw the Indian bowlers repeatedly take wickets, and a collapse in the second session sealed the hosts’ fate.
South Africa’s fielding was impressive as well, highlighted by Aiden Markram taking two key catches that underscored the Aussie‑style discipline of the touring side.
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