India’s home Test dominance over? Justin Langer gives no-nonsense verdict

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach, Justin Langer, has dropped a blunt statement on whether the dominance of the India National Cricket Team in home Tests is over.

Justin Langer bluntly said that the home dominance of the India National Cricket Team will never end because there are exceptionally talented cricketers in the country.

India lost 4 out of the last 6 home Tests

Team India were unbeatable in the home Test matches prior to Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the head coach of the side. They played an exceptional brand of cricket at home and didn't lose any series for over a decade.

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Many teams toured India during that phase, but were brutally thrashed by the hosts, and they just couldn't beat the home side. However, that change occurred in late 2024 when New Zealand pulled off a historic clean sweep over India.

It was an utter humiliation for Team India as they suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home in Test cricket for the first time in history and faced heavy criticism from fans and experts.

They recently bounced back by defeating the West Indies 2-0 in the home Test series, but again lost an all-important Test match against the South Africa National Cricket Team.

The Shubman Gill-led side faced a humiliating 30-run loss against the Proteas after producing an excessively bowling-friendly track at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

I would never say that, there's too much talent in India - Justin Langer

Meanwhile, Justin Langer has stated that the home dominance of India would continue forever, and the recent defeats can be attributed to the exposure that overseas players have been getting in the country by playing the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"Anyone who suggests it's the end of (home domination) in this country, they're a more courageous person than me because I would never say that, there's too much talent in India, Langer told TOI.

"The greatest highlight of my career was beating India in that 2004 series because it always felt impossible to beat India in India. That was the Mount Everest moment of our career. So it's really interesting, isn't it, that we're seeing a bit of a change with visiting teams beating India in India? Perhaps it is because some of the other countries and their players are playing in the IPL too," Langer, the brand ambassador of NiviCap, said here on Monday.

India have got some very good players in that team and they'll be disappointed - Justin Langer

Justin Langer further said that the hosts would be disappointed after losing the Test series opener and would look to bounce back in the next game.

"Remember, some of the Indian players just came from Australia (white-ball series, which ended on Nov 8), where it's opposite. And a few days later, they're playing in really tough conditions in Kolkata. India have got some very good players in that team and they'll be disappointed and look to fight back in the next Test."

While talking about the Ashes, Justin Langer said that Joe Root would not be under pressure heading into the series to hit his first ton in Australia. He said:

"Root has got more Test runs than anyone in the history of English cricket. He is a superstar. Yes, at the moment he hasn't scored a Test hundred (in Australia). Will he score it in the next five Tests? Only time will tell.. But, he's under zero pressure (to score the elusive ton)."

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