Kapil also criticised the pitch used for the first Test in Kolkata, where the match ended inside three days. He said such pitches do not help the game, as the team that loses the toss instantly falls behind.

Kapil Dev slams India after heavy Test series defeat to South Africa

India's series loss to South Africa has also dented their hopes of making it to the final of the current World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. To have a shot at the WTC Final spot, India need about 84 points more which means they need to win seven of nine Tests remaining.

Former spinner Harbhajan asks for better pitches and says current Indian team lacks 'temperament' to play Tests

With Shubman Gill out, Pant led the side as stand-in captain, but nothing clicked for him or the team. His own form dipped badly as he scored only 49 runs in four innings.

Rishabh Pant breaks silence after India’s worst home Test loss against South Africa

Since the start of the 2024-25 season, India have played four home Tests across two series. They have won two and lost two. The dominance that once felt automatic suddenly looks fragile.

End of an era? India’s home Test aura shattered after two whitewashes in calendar year

Since New Zealand came to India last year, India now have lost five of seven home Tests with two wins coming against a weakened West Indies before the SA series.

South Africa complete series clean sweep as India succumb to their biggest Test loss by runs in Guwahati

After South Africa declared their innings at 260/5, they took out both Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as India finished day 4 (Nov 25) at 27/2, needing another 522 runs to win the match and level the series.

IND vs SA, 2nd Test: India stare at series defeat after being set up 549-run target in Guwahati

South Africa's first innings lead of 288 runs after India were bowled out for 201 in response to visitors' 489 meant that the home team was set a mammoth target of 549 to win the Test and level the series. India are trailing 0-1 in the two-Test series after losing the first Test in Kolkata.

IND vs SA: Ashwin left dejected by India's 'body language' in Guwahati Test

Washington scored 29 off 82 balls in the first innings of India and backed it with 92-ball 31 in the second innings. In Guwahati, Sundar batted at number eight but still emerged as India's highest run scorer in the first innings with 92-ball 48.

IND vs SA: Former pacer Dodda Ganesha call current Indian team most 'confused ever' for THIS reason

Kuldeep's 134-ball stay at the crease showed that it wasn't the pitch but the application by the batters which mattered. Kuldeep is only the second Indian player behind KL Rahul's 119-ball stay in Kolkata to play more than 100 balls in an innings in the ongoing series.

IND vs SA: Kuldeep's 134-ball innings in Guwahati is longest by any Indian batter this series

In the second and final Test of the series in Guwahati, India will be hoping for a win to draw the series. They are still not sure about the participation of skipper Shubman Gill who had retired hurt mid-way in the first Test because of neck spasm.

Former batter Robin Uthappa says India not WTC champion contender in ongoing cycle

Having waved off Nitish Kumar Reddy after the first Test match, he was summoned to be back in the Indian team as injuries and key unavailabilities influenced the decision.

IND vs SA: Nitish Kumar Reddy recalled to India squad as depleted hosts search for parity in Guwahati - Report

Before the loss, India lost Tests at home in a period of seven years of Feb 2017 to Jan 2024. After the last defeat in that period, which came against England in Hyderabad, India had won six matches at home on the trot - making their win-loss record in 34 home Tests at 25-4.

India's loss against South Africa was fourth in last six home Tests - their worst record since 1972

Having complained of neck spasm on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test, Shubman Gill was ruled out of the rest of the contest and was unavailable during the 30-run defeat to South Africa.

IND vs SA: Shubman Gill set to travel with Indian squad for Guwahati Test, participation unconfirmed - Report

 Head coach Gautam Gambhir, after India lost the first Test on Sunday (Nov 16) by 30 runs in a chase of 124, said that Gill is "still being assessed."

Gill out of hospital but 'still being assessed' for second Test, says head coach Gambhir

The current World Test Champions, South Africa, will play a two-match Test series against India on their home soil, starting from Friday (Nov 14).

IND vs SA, 1st Test: 'God has been...', says India's vice-captain post comeback after nearly four months