South Africa has won the 2-match Test series 2-0 by defeating India by a huge margin of 408 runs in Guwahati. Team India failed in every field in the second test. One of the 5 major reasons for this defeat is the strategy of coach Gautam Gambhir, which failed in Guwahati. Lack of experience was clearly visible under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant. There is still confusion regarding the batting order. In the first Test, Washington Sundar was tried at number three, he also batted well but due to the arrival of Sai Sudarshan in the next Test, he again had to move down to the lower order.

1. Extra all-rounders

India gave importance to additional all-rounders in this series instead of Test specialist players, this strategy was a complete failure of Team India. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was playing in the second test, but he bowled only 6 overs in the first innings and 4 overs in the second innings. India could have played a better specialist batsman than this. Apart from him, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were the other two all-rounders playing.

2. Experiment number 3 failed

The experiment of number-3 in the Indian batting order failed in this series also. After Cheteshwar Pujara, India is not able to set any batsman in this position. In the first test, Washington Sundar batted at number three, Sai Sudarshan came in this match. Sudarshan failed in both the innings.

3. Indian batsmen kneeled in front of spin.

There is a perception about Indian batsmen that they play spin well, but this was not seen at all in this series. South Africa’s batsmen played better spin than Team India’s batsmen. Simon Harmer had scored 119 runs on this pitch, Marco Jansen had played a quick inning of 93 runs.

4. Lack of experience seen in the captain

Rishabh Pant was playing his first Test as captain, his lack of experience was clearly visible. His body language also looked tired in the second innings of South Africa. This team has experienced players like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, although he was seen taking advice from them in the test but nothing was successful. When India was in trouble in the first innings, Rishabh Pant lost his wicket by playing an irresponsible shot. Pant, who scored 7 runs in the first innings, could score only 13 runs in the second innings.

Test captain Shubman Gill left the field in the first Test due to neck cramps. He could not bat in the first test and had to be ruled out of the second test also.

5. Gautam Gambhir’s strategy

Both India’s wicket keepers Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant were included in the playing 11 in both the Tests against South Africa. This was a shocking decision. Jurel certainly did good fielding, but with the bat he completely flopped in the second test. In the first innings of the second Test, Jurel was out for zero, in the second innings he was out after scoring 2 runs. There was also uncertainty regarding the batting order in the playing 11.

Sourav Ganguly, one of the most successful captains of India, explained in his latest interview why VVS Laxman was angry with him and did not talk for 3 months. He was asked about Gautam Gambhir as a head coach career and if he was asked to rate it, then know what he said.

In this interview with PTI, Sourav Ganguly shared many revelations and stories. He told that as captain, I had to choose one of the most difficult Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble for me. “These were not the players who would sit outside in a five -day Test and enjoy the brake, they were the players who used to come and asked why I am not playing? The condition is favorable to me, even if they are not. It was a good fortune to have such champions players who wanted to win the match and win for the team.”

Why Laxman did not talk for 3 months

VVS Laxman’s name is taken in the country’s legendary cricketers, his career was also fantastic but despite this he never played the World Cup. He was removed from the team before the 2003 World Cup, replacing Dinesh Mongia in his place. Captain Sourav Ganguly was behind this decision. Now he spoke openly about this and told that after this Laxman did not even talk to him for 3 months.

In this interview, Ganguly told that, “Laxman was unhappy and distressed after this. He did not talk to me for 3 months, until I reconciled him. Anyone would be angry at being excluded from a big event like World Cup, especially a player with a capacity like Laxman. He was natural to be unhappy. After the World Cup, he was happy that our team performed well.”

Ganguly further said, “When we returned, they also returned to the ODI team, they performed brilliantly in Pakistan and Australia. We won for the first time in Pakistan and VVS Laxman played an important role in it.”

What Ganguly said about Gautam Gambhir’s coaching

While talking to PTI, Ganguly said about Gautam Gambhir’s coaching, “He is performing his duty well. He started a bit slow, lost to Australia and New Zealand but after that team won the team champions trophy. The series against England is going to grow up for him. I have not worked with him but he is obsessed with him. I have played with him, he is a great man, he is a great man and honoring him.”

VIDEO | VETERAN CRCKETER SOURAV Ganguly (@Sganguly99), in a reply to a question on India’s head coach gautam gambhir (@Gautamgambhir), said:

“I Think Gautam (Gambhir) is Doing a Good Job. He Started Off a Little Slow, Losing to Australia and New Zealand, but he picked up with… pic.twitter.com/bphliviwxk

– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) June 22, 2025

“I am watching them now, he keeps his words straight, he is obsessed. He speaks openly on everything, about the team, about the players. I wish them all the best, but yes, he will learn and move forward.”