India‘s proud residence file in Check cricket has suffered a devastating blow with a 0-2 whitewash in opposition to South Africa in 2025, their third clear sweep on residence soil and the primary since New Zealand‘s 3-0 triumph in 2024. This marks South Africa’s second sequence victory in India, echoing their 2000 dominance after 25 years, as they crushed India by 408 runs in Guwahati—the hosts’ largest Check defeat by runs. Beneath head coach Gautam Gambhir, back-to-back residence sequence losses in opposition to SENA international locations have shattered the invincibility constructed over a decade, dropping India to fifth within the World Check Championship standings. Followers and analysts now query the tip of India’s fortress-era, with 5 residence Check defeats in seven matches—probably the most since 1959.
Three events when India have been whitewashed in residence Check sequence
- South Africa’s pioneering sweep in 2000
The primary residence whitewash got here through the 1999-2000 South Africa tour, a two- match Check sequence the place Hansie Cronje‘s Proteas triumphed 2-0, ending a 13-year drought for visiting groups in India. In Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, South Africa chased 236 to win by 4 wickets after India folded for 225 and 113, with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald dismantling the batting. The Bengaluru decider noticed India crumble to an innings defeat, bowled out for 250 chasing 400, as Nicky Boje claimed a five-wicket haul and 85 runs for Participant of the Sequence honours alongside Jacques Kallis. This sequence, later tainted by match-fixing scandals involving Cronje, uncovered India’s vulnerabilities in opposition to tempo and spin.
Additionally READ: High 5 largest defeats of Crew India in Check cricket
- New Zealand’s stunning 3-0 Triumph in 2024
Quick-forward to October-November 2024, New Zealand inflicted India’s first-ever 0-3 residence whitewash in a three-Check sequence, the Black Caps’ maiden sequence victory on Indian pitches and India‘s preliminary multi-Check residence clear sweep in 24 years. Spinners Ajaz Patel (11 wickets within the finale) and Glenn Phillips dominated, defending 146 in Mumbai regardless of Rishabh Pant‘s counter-attacking 64, whereas India managed simply 29 for five early. Earlier losses in Bengaluru (together with a 46 all out) and Pune highlighted batting collapses in opposition to tempo and switch, with Rohit Sharma‘s facet dropping 37 wickets to spinners—probably the most at residence in such a sequence. This uncommon feat made New Zealand solely the fourth facet to whitewash India in a 3+ Check rubber.
- Proteas repeat historical past with 2025 dominance
South Africa reclaimed glory in November 2025, securing a 2-0 sweep—their first in India since 2000—through a 30-run first-Check win in Kolkata and a colossal 408-run thrashing in Guwahati, India’s largest residence defeat by runs. Chasing 549, India collapsed to 140 all out on Day 5, as Simon Harmer and Marco Jansen overwhelmed the lineup, with no Indian innings reaching 250. Stand-in captain Pant’s facet failed to attain a century throughout each Checks, a drought unseen since 1969, amplifying scrutiny on Gambhir’s aggressive blueprint amid back-to-back whitewashes. These setbacks dent India’s World Check Championship hopes, signalling a turbulent transition.
Additionally READ: R Ashwin, Sourav Ganguly, Michael Vaughan and others react to India’s Check sequence whitewash in opposition to South Africa
