India Suffers Record-Breaking Defeat as South Africa Wins Series 2-0
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India's reputation as a formidable Test cricket team has taken a significant hit after South Africa inflicted a crushing 408-run defeat on them in the second Test at Guwahati. This is India's largest home loss in terms of runs, and it marked the country's third whitewash loss at home since 2000. The series loss has raised serious questions about India's coach, Gautam Gambhir, whose Test record now stands at 7 wins, 10 defeats, and 2 draws in 19 matches. With a win percentage of 36.82, Gambhir's loss percentage is over 50%, worse than his predecessor Duncan Fletcher. In the post-match conference, Gambhir shifted the blame, stating that India played against a 'top-quality' side and that the team is in 'transition.' However, he refused to comment on his own future, leaving it to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to decide. India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship have also been impacted, with the team now standing fifth on the table with 48.15% points. The batting unit was a major concern for India, averaging only 15.23 in the two Tests, the second-lowest in their history. The team struggled to score runs, with the highest score in the series being 201, making it only the fourth instance where India failed to score 250 in an innings. South Africa's off-spinner Simon Harmer was the chief architect of India's downfall, taking 17 wickets at an average of 8.94. The pace duo of Marco Jansen and Harmer proved to be too much for India's batters. The loss has left India's fans and experts wondering about the team's future, especially with the departures of greats like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. The team's inability to adapt to new situations and players has been a major concern. As the team prepares for the white-ball leg of the tour, Gambhir has urged his team to learn from their mistakes. However, the question remains - who is to blame for India's downfall, and what changes will be made to rectify the situation?
