India have endured another major setback in home Test cricket, this time against South Africa. After losing the opening Test in Kolkata, the hosts have again been outplayed in Guwahati, resulting in a 2–0 sweep for the Proteas. The defeat adds to a worrying trend, just last year, India were whitewashed 3–0 at home by New Zealand, and now another visiting team has replicated that dominance.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has taken a dig at India’s struggles, reminding fans of their once-formidable reputation at home. In a tongue-in-cheek remark referencing his famous 186 at the Wankhede Stadium in 2012, Pietersen tweeted that India “never loses at home unless some very good players come and play some special knocks in Mumbai.” His comment comes at a time when India's invincibility on home soil appears to be slipping fast.
For years, winning a Test let alone a series, in India was considered one of the toughest tasks in cricket. But in the past year, India have lost two of their three home Test series, both by whitewash margins. While they managed a 2–0 win over the West Indies earlier in the year, defeats to New Zealand and now South Africa have exposed significant cracks.
India’s repeated failures have raised several pressing questions about their strategy, team combinations, and constant chopping and changing of lineups. With no Test cricket scheduled for the next few months, the management has a crucial window to reassess their approach and address the issues behind their rapid decline at home.
