India suffered a humiliating 408-run defeat against South Africa in the Guwahati Test, losing a two-match series at home for the first time in 25 years. Indian batsmen were helpless against South Africa’s spinners.
Simon Harmer took 17 wickets and Keshav Maharaj claimed 6, highlighting India’s struggle against quality spin. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin explained on his YouTube channel that India’s current batting unit is among the weakest against spin in world cricket.
Ashwin stated, “The introduction of neutral curators in domestic cricket was aimed at preventing overly deteriorated wickets. While this helps players handle pace and seam better, it has inadvertently weakened India’s spin batting skills. Abroad, Indian batsmen perform well because there is less spin pressure, but at home, mastery of spin is essential.”
He praised South Africa’s performance, stating that Temba Bavuma’s team consistently scored 80 runs per session and set up a calculated chase in the fourth innings. India will now face South Africa in a three-match ODI series starting next Sunday in Ranchi, followed by a five-match T20 series.
South Africa Spinners’ Performance:
| Player | Wickets | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Simon Harmer | 17 | 2 Tests |
| Keshav Maharaj | 6 | 2 Tests |