India’s 0–2 Test series defeat to South Africa — capped by a humbling 408-run loss in Guwahati — has opened a painful debate about the direction of Indian Test cricket. The scale of the reverse prompted sharp criticism from former greats, with Anil Kumble leading calls for a sober reassessment of selection policy, batting strategy and long-term planning under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Anil Kumble did not mince words. “Today was abject surrender. It required fight, some adjustments, some adaptability — just put your head down and bat. Jadeja showed it… Very disappointing for India,” he told JioHotstar, and went on to underline his bigger concern: constant chopping and changing at the top of the order and frequent experimental selections.
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“You can’t have so many all-rounders, so many changes in the batting order, so many changes in the team itself. Every other game, guys come in, guys get dropped,” he argued, calling for sensible discussions and “sane heads” around the selection table.
Those observations cut to the core problem: a rapid clearing out of senior experience over the last few years — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements, Cheteshwar Pujara’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane not being picked regularly, and Shubman Gill’s recent injury — has left a young group that is still finding its feet. Kumble warned that you cannot throw inexperienced players repeatedly into the deep end without a stable spine of seasoned campaigners.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen expressed public astonishment at India’s sudden fragility at home: “India NEVER loses at home… What’s happened to India in the last couple of years in Test cricket?” His reaction mirrored wider global surprise at how quickly the home fortress image has eroded.
India NEVER loses at home, unless some very good players come and play some special knocks in Mumbai…🤣🤣
What’s happened to India in the last couple years in Test Cricket? 🏏
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) November 26, 2025
Irfan Pathan added another layer of critique, pointing to technique and temperament: Indian batters showed “poor patience and technique,” he said, urging that selection prioritise players who can handle quality spin and sticky situations in the middle overs.
The numbers stack up uncomfortably: two home whitewashes inside a year, repeated collapses, and nearly double-digit losses in recent Tests. Kumble stressed the need for fewer experiments and more continuity — a settled top five, clarity on roles (who is a pure batsman at No. 3, who is an all-rounder at No. 6), and time for players to build Test-match habits. He suggested that selectors must balance youth with experience and resist knee-jerk chopping.
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Beyond selection, critics asked for stronger coaching inputs on technique, scenario-based training and mental conditioning to arrest repeated collapses. The urgency is real: India’s next home Test window is months away, but the recovery must start immediately — with candid conversations, a coherent batting blueprint and, crucially, a commitment to backing a core group long enough for form, confidence and application to return.
