The 2025–27 WTC cycle has turned into a nightmare for Team India following a humiliating 2–0 series defeat at home to South Africa. With the latest defeat, India have tumbled down to fifth place in the standings. They suffered a 408-run defeat in the second Test against South Africa, which was the heaviest ever home Test defeat for the side in terms of runs.
Notably, under the current leadership led by coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, India’s Test side has undergone a major transition, with several senior players having retired recently. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar asserted that a lack of preparation has contributed to India's collapse.
"More than things going badly wrong from the Indian point of view, it’s the preparation of both the teams that needs to be lauded. New Zealand played a series in Sri Lanka before coming to India and got used to conditions and pitches. South Africa went to Pakistan in October before coming to India. Their 'A' team was in India playing against India A. Some of those players were prepared, who then came into the Tests. Their preparation was much more thorough than a lot of other teams," Gavaskar said on India Today.
Gavaskar further felt that India should not have played the white-series in the middle of home season. Ahead of the South Africa Tests, India had travelled to Australia to play a white-ball series three ODIs and five T20Is.
"I think that is the thing that India needs to be very strong about, that Australia doesn't go anywhere during their home season. India should also say to other teams, 'Look, our season is more important. You want to play against us, you come to India'. Playing the ODI series or T20I series in Australia between the two Test series didn't make any sense, but that was a bilateral arrangement that had to be adhered to," he added.