Former India head coach Ravi Shastri minced no words while assessing the team's declining standards in Test cricket under current head coach Gautam Gambhir, following their 0-2 series defeat to South Africa. Since taking charge last year, Gambhir has overseen five Test series, winning only one, a home bilateral against West Indies in October.
India's meek surrender to the Proteas in the second Test in Guwahati has drawn heavy scrutiny, with Gambhir facing criticism from fans and experts alike. Shastri stressed that the Indian batters must take greater responsibility for the team's dismal first-innings collapse, where they were bowled out for 201 in reply to South Africa's imposing 489.
Between 2012 and 2024, a period in which India asserted near-total dominance at home, Shastri emerged as the country's most successful Test coach. During his tenure from 2017 to 2021, India achieved a 65 success rate across formats. Under his leadership, alongside Virat Kohli, the Test side became a competitive unit, recording India's historic first two Test series wins in Australia. Their dominance also helped India stay No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings for 42 months 2016-2021 and reach the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021.
