The India cricket team, after suffering a 30-run defeat to South Africa in the opening test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, added several unwanted records under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching.

Jasprit Bumrah’s 5-wicket haul bowled out South Africa’s first innings to 159. But, Shubman Gill led side was able to take only a 30-run lead after bundling out for 189. In response, South African skipper Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 55-run knock steered his team to compile 153.

Despite having a chance to chase a mediocre 124-run target, a lackluster batting performance couldn’t help India from recording an embarrassing defeat.

It’s not just about one or two, but India attained multiple unwanted records under Gambhir’s era, particularly in test cricket.

Here is the list of humiliating records that the hosts created after their loss to South Africa in the Kolkata test.

4 Out of 8 Test Match Losses at Home

Team India has so far played eight test matches at home ever since Gautam Gambhir stepped into the coaching role. Out of which, India has lost four of them.

In other words, India has managed to win only two test series that too against Bangladesh and the West Indies, by a 2-0 margin.

But the whitewashing defeat to New Zealand by 0-3 has left a big wound on every Indian fan’s heart.

As the second test is approaching closer on November 22 (Friday) at Guwahati, the only chance left for India is to level the ongoing 2-match test series against South Africa at 1-1. By failing to do so, the hosts would succumb to another clean sweep loss, likewise to the previous year’s test series against the Kiwis.

The most humiliating fact is that the number of test matches India lost at home under Gambhir’s coaching is greater than the number lost during the eras of Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri.

Moreover, India lost only 2 tests at home when the former Indian batter Rahul Dravid served as the team’s head coach.

First Defeat to South Africa in Test at Home After 15 Years

After 15 years, South Africa was able to conclude its 7-test match losing streak in India under Temba Bavuma’s captaincy. The Proteas secured their last test victory against the hosts back in February 2010 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

Two Tests Defeats While Chasing Targets 150 or Below

This is the second instance where India lost a test match at home while chasing targets of 150 or below. A 25-run loss to New Zealand at Wankhede in October 2024 was the first test that India lost. The hosts’ innings concluded at 121, while chasing 147

South African bowlers wrapped India’s second innings to 93, proving the batters inability to tackle the spinners in a 124-run chase.

To be precise, India became the first team in the 21st century to lose a single test match at home chasing 150 or under.

Team India Openers Joint Second-Worst Aggregate in Tests at Home

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul tallied the record of former cricketers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir for the second-lowest aggregate in test cricket.

ML Jaisimha and Indrajitsinhji rank in the first position in the list for scoring a duck against Australia back in 1964.

India’s Defeat in Second-Lowest Target Run Chase at Home

Team India’s 30-run loss in a 124-run chase against South Africa was indeed the second-lowest target the team has failed to accomplish at home in test cricket. Here is a detailed list of those five lowest targets in test cricket that India remained unsuccessful in run chases:

• 193 vs England in 2025, Lord’s.
• 176 vs Sri Lanka in 2015, Galle.
• 147 vs New Zealand in 2024, Wankhede.
• 124 vs South Africa in 2025, Eden Gardens.
• 120 vs West Indies in 1997, Bridgetown.

Conclusion

Regardless of India’s success in T20 cricket, Gautam Gambhir’s coaching continues to receive backlashes following the team’s disappointing outcome in test cricket.

After taking over the role from Rahul Dravid, India triumphed in the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup 2025, played in the 50-over and 20-over format, respectively.

But India’s subpar performance in bilateral series has been a big concern that has caused the team to add several unwanted records in the history of test cricket.

As the hosts faced a whitewashing 0-2 loss to the Proteas back in 2000, the forthcoming test proves to be the most crucial one. Losing the upcoming clash at Guwahati will cause India to face an insulting test series loss at home to South Africa after 25 years.