Gautam Gambhir, Rishabh Pant devastated after India's home Test series loss vs South Africa

India’s stand-in captain Rishabh Pant and head coach Gautam Gambhir were seen completely dejected after the heavy defeat in the second and final Test against South Africa in Guwahati.

South Africa delivered a shock that Indian fans will remember for years, finishing their complete domination with a ruthless whitewash at the country’s newest Test venue in Guwahati.

The South African side crushed India by 408 runs in the final Test to register their only Test series whitewash on Indian soil after 25 years. Earlier, they had won the first Test by 30 runs in Kolkata.

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Rishabh Pant in tears, Gautam Gambhir shell-shocked as India face historic humiliation

It was India's heaviest defeat in terms of runs in Tests, ending their home dominance of more than a decade. The visitors outplayed the hosts in every department, showed remarkable discipline, and never let the Indian side make a comeback in the final Test.

In a heartbreaking moment following the embarrassing defeat in Guwahati, Rishabh Pant broke down on the ground, struggling to come to terms with the humiliating whitewash at home.

Read Also: 'Death of Indian Test cricket': Gautam Gambhir’s sacking demanded after South Africa’s stunning series win

On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir was seen in complete shock. Known for his fiery attitude, Gambhir looked stunned and unable to understand how the team had collapsed so badly in their own conditions for the second time in 12 months.

The situation of the captain and the coach after a home Test series. 💔 pic.twitter.com/OQhGyOxemO

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 26, 2025

pic.twitter.com/6kVp320TGR

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) November 26, 2025

India suffer consecutive home Test series losses after four decades

Meanwhile, after losing 0–3 to New Zealand last year and now going down 0–2 to South Africa, India have slipped to back-to-back home Test series defeats for the first time in more than 40 years. The last time India faced consecutive home series defeats way back in the 1980s, when powerful West Indies and England sides crushed them in successive years in 1983 and 84/85.

That period is remembered as one of the most difficult times for Indian cricket, and the current situation is not showing great signs at all under Gautam Gambhir’s era. The biggest concern in this latest test series against South Africa was India’s batting.

Read Also: ICC World Test Championship Points Table, WTC Table After IND vs SA 2nd Test, 2025

For only the third time ever, India finished a home Test series without a single century from any batter. Last time, this happened against New Zealand in 1969–70 and again in 1995–96. Indian batters averaged just 15.23 across the two tests against the Proteas side.

This is their second-lowest batting average in any Test series, only slightly better than the 12.42 they recorded during the 2002–03 tour of New Zealand. On the other hand, it was South Africa’s second Test series win in India after their 2-0 sweep in 2000.

What Rishabh Pant and Gautam Gambhir said after Guwahati humiliation?

After the embarrassment, Rishabh Pant admitted that this Test series loss was disappointing but said the team must use it as a learning step. He felt South Africa simply played better cricket and took their chances, while India failed to make the most of the key moments despite being in good positions at times. India’s stand-in captain also stressed that playing at home doesn’t guarantee success, and the team needs a clearer mindset and more determination.

On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir has openly said that he is ready to quit as India head coach if BCCI would want, as the pressure on him continued to grow. Gambhir said in Guwahati: “It’s up to the BCCI to decide. I said it in my press conference when I took over as head coach: ‘Indian cricket is important, I am not important’. And I sit here, saying exactly the same thing."

His first year as India’s Test coach has been very challenging, as Gambhir became the first Indian coach to face two home Test series whitewashes. Under his stint, India has lost five of their last seven home tests, and overall the team has lost 10 out of 19 test matches.