India’s struggles in Test cricket at home have pushed Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir into a tough spot. After the 0-2 defeat to South Africa, questions are growing inside the BCCI about India’s planning, selection and overall preparation.
This setback comes soon after New Zealand swept India at home in 2024. It has raised alarms about how the team is building its red-ball core and whether the current system is missing basic issues.
Officials say both Agarkar and Gambhir will be asked to explain what went wrong. They want clarity on how selections were made and why India could not handle familiar conditions.
Selectors Under Scrutiny
Agarkar’s selection panel is facing strong criticism for not watching enough domestic cricket. Many believe there is now a wide gap between selectors and red-ball performers who grind through the Ranji season.
Agarkar has spent much of the past year travelling with the national side in Australia and England. But he has barely attended Ranji games since the 2024 Tamil Nadu versus Karnataka match. That game was followed by Devdutt Padikkal’s Test debut, which raised eyebrows about how quickly players are promoted.
Fans and former players feel the selectors lean towards names with modest first class numbers. Players like Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy are often picked ahead of consistent batters such as Sarfaraz Khan, Karun Nair and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
A BCCI official pointed out this growing problem. He said, “We will speak to the selectors too on the Test debacle. As far as watching domestic games is concerned, every score comes on the app.” The comment has sparked debate about whether selectors rely too much on digital updates instead of watching games live.
India’s Home Form Is Slipping
India have now lost five of their last seven Tests at home. South Africa exposed loose batting, slow thinking in the field and a lack of patience on pitches that did not misbehave much.
Experts say the team cannot hide behind excuses anymore. They believe this defeat should be treated as a wake up call. India need clearer long term plans, a stronger domestic pipeline and more accountability in red ball cricket.