Historic Defeat Ends South Africa's 15-Year Drought
In a stunning turn of events, South Africa has defeated India in Test cricket on Indian soil for the first time in 15 years. The first Test match of the series concluded abruptly within just two-and-a-half days, sending shockwaves through the cricketing community and triggering widespread criticism from disappointed Indian fans.
Fan Backlash Targets Pant's Leadership and Gambhir's Strategy
Since the crushing defeat, Indian cricket enthusiasts have expressed their frustration across social media platforms, pointing fingers at multiple aspects of Team India's performance. Acting captain Rishabh Pant faced particular scrutiny for his decision-making, especially his dismissal through what many termed a "reckless shot" early in his innings.
One fan expressed their disappointment strongly: "This blind slogger Rishabh Pant can't perform in pressure situations even in his best format tests, also failed in WTC final. He doesn't have a Single fifty after playing 6 ICC tournaments, yet he gets selected above Sanju Samson in ODIs."
Another supporter drew comparisons with Shubman Gill's leadership: "The reason Shubman Gill is India's Test captain and not Rishabh Pant. Ind vs Eng 4th test, IND 2-0, Pant unavailable, Gill steps up with a clutch hundred. Ind vs SA: Series 1-2, Pant plays a 1st-ball reverse sweep, survives twice on luck and gets out. Irresponsible af."
Coaching Staff Under Fire
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir also found himself at the center of the storm, with fans questioning his tactical decisions and team management. Critics described his approach as predictable and lacking in effective mid-match adjustments.
"Under GG's stupidity, India will break many negative records," posted one frustrated supporter, while another claimed, "Gautam Gambhir alone destroyed the Indian team in all formats. You can't win a Test without experienced players."
The selection committee faced additional heat for their controversial decision to drop specialist number 3 batter Sai Sudharsan, who had scored 87 and 39 in his previous two matches, replacing him with lower-order batter Washington Sundar without providing any explanation.
Pitch Controversy Adds to Woes
The Eden Gardens pitch became another major point of contention, with CAB President Sourav Ganguly revealing that the playing surface was prepared according to specific requests from the Indian camp. The pitch exhibited uneven bounce and sharp turn from the very first day, resulting in 27 wickets falling within the first two days.
Ganguly clarified the situation: "We delivered what the Indian camp asked for. If no water is applied to the pitch for four days, this is exactly what will happen. Now you can't just push the blame onto curator Sujan Mukhopadhyay."
Former cricketers including Harbhajan Singh and Michael Vaughan joined the criticism, with Vaughan describing the pitch conditions as making a "mockery of Test cricket."
As the dust settles on this dramatic defeat, Indian cricket faces serious questions about team selection, leadership decisions, and preparation strategies moving forward in the series.
