English Test captain Ben Stokes has urged critics not to describe England’s series-opening performance in the ongoing Ashes as “arrogant”. England suffered an eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Test of the five-match series in Perth. Stokes stated that although the result was disappointing, England were “great” during certain phases of the match.

He added that he had no issue with people criticising the team’s execution but felt the label “arrogant” was unfair. Stokes emphasized that the team did not have the performance they wanted but played well in important moments during the Test.

"Look, you can call us rubbish, call us whatever you want. We didn't have the Test match that we wanted to. We were great in passages of that game, but I think 'arrogant' might be a little bit too far. But that's okay. We'll take the rough with the smooth. I'd rather words like 'rubbish', but 'arrogant', I'm not so sure about that," stated Stokes, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Stokes Says Fans Are Disappointed but England Still Chasing Ashes Glory

Stokes acknowledged the disappointment that English fans must be feeling after the heavy defeat. However, he remained firm that the team’s primary goal remains unchanged to win the Ashes series. He reminded that it is a five-match contest and England still have four Tests left to turn things around.

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah to retire from Tests? Ravichandran Ashwin reveals shocking desire for veteran pacer

"We know that there'll be a lot of disappointed fans in England after that first defeat. But it's a five-game series, we've got four games to go, we've lost the first one - we're absolutely desperate to come home with that goal from before we even started the series, which is to win the Ashes," concluded Stokes. England posted 172 and 164 in the two innings, failing to capitalise on their 40-run first-innings lead. Australia cruised to victory thanks to a Travis Head century and a 10-wicket match haul from Mitchell Starc. England’s next challenge will be the pink-ball second Test starting December 4 in Brisbane.

India’s World Test Championship hopes have taken a serious hit following back-to-back defeats to South Africa at home, a result that has dropped them to fifth place on the 2025–27 WTC points table. With four wins from nine Tests and a modest 48.15% points percentage, the Men in Blue now face a fierce uphill battle to stay alive in the race for the 2027 final at Lord’s.

The new cycle had begun with optimism. Shubman Gill took over the reins from Rohit Sharma after India missed the previous final, and there was a sense of renewal in the setup. But after a spirited 2–2 draw against England, familiar issues resurfaced, inconsistent selection calls, an unsettled batting order and a continued vulnerability against spin. South Africa capitalised ruthlessly, handing India their second consecutive home whitewash.

Halfway through the cycle, India’s record reads 4 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, leaving almost no room for error as they brace for nine more Tests.

Qualification Math: What India Need

Historical trends show that teams usually need a PCT above 60 to qualify for the final. India can still reach that mark, but the path is narrow.

A breakdown of key scenarios:

• 7 wins from 9 Tests - PCT 62.96 (realistic qualification)
• 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss - PCT 61.11
• 6 wins, 3 losses - almost certainly eliminated

Winning all nine remaining Tests would take India to a commanding 74.07%, but given their schedule, that is an enormous challenge.

India’s Remaining Fixtures: The Road Ahead

Sri Lanka (Away, August 2026)

Sri Lanka’s turning tracks will test India’s much-discussed weakness against spin. Since 2021, spinners have dominated proceedings at home:

At Galle, spinners account for nearly 80% of all wickets, making batting a serious challenge for India’s inexperienced lineup.

ALSO SEE: Gautam Gambhir Creates Unwanted Record, Becomes First Indian Head Coach To Lose Five Home Tests

New Zealand (Away, Oct–Nov 2026)

New Zealand remains India’s most difficult away venue. Green, seaming pitches and quality fast bowling have historically troubled Indian batters.

India have been whitewashed on their last two tours and have won only once in New Zealand since 2009, a pattern that will worry the team heading into another critical series.

Australia in India (Home, Jan–Feb 2027)

Even at home, the challenge will be stiff. Australia’s spin attack of Lyon, Murphy and Kuhnemann has already tasted success in Asia. With India’s own batters struggling against spin recently, pitch preparation becomes a strategic dilemma, turning tracks may not necessarily favour the hosts.

Recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy results:

• 2017: India win 2–1
• 2023: India win 2–1

A similar margin may not be enough this time unless India enter the series with a stronger WTC standing.

A Huge Test Awaits Gill’s India

India must win at least seven of their last nine matches to have a realistic shot at reaching the 2027 WTC final. Their upcoming tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, both difficult in very different ways, will likely decide their fate.

Without solutions to their spin troubles, a reliable new-ball pair, and more stability in the batting order, India’s WTC dreams could slip away again. As it stands, qualification remains possible, but only with a dramatic turnaround in form, consistency and selection clarity. If the issues persist, India may need to wait until 2029 for another shot at a WTC final.

India’s stand-in captain Rishabh Pant looked visibly disappointed as he stepped forward to assess his team’s performance after the crushing 408-run defeat to South Africa in Guwahati. The loss handed the Proteas their first-ever Test series win on Indian soil. Pant, playing in a leadership role following Shubman Gill being ruled out due to a neck injury sustained in the Kolkata Test, did not offer excuses and was candidly honest about India's lacunae.

Without naming anyone, Pant highlighted the major problems troubling the Indian team. His words reflected frustration, concern, and the need for urgent improvement. "It's a little disappointing. As a team, we need to get better… Credit to the opposition for playing better than us. They dominated the series… we're playing at home, and sometimes we were up in the game. Still, we didn't capitalise on it," he said after the loss.

Pant added that cricket demands consistency and effort regardless of the venue. He stressed that India’s batting unit must grab key moments, something the team failed to do. "Whether you're playing at home or away, cricket demands that determination and that extra effort… As a batting unit, you need to capitalise on certain moments… The positives from this series will be to focus on our own plan,” the captain added.

India Suffer Their Worst-Ever Home Test Defeat

This result marks India’s heaviest Test defeat on home soil, surpassing the 342-run loss to Australia in 2004. It also underlines a worrying pattern, as this is India’s fifth Test defeat in the past year. South Africa’s 2-0 series triumph is their maiden Test series win in India after 25 years, repeating their 2-0 victory from the 2000 tour.

See Also: 'We Win Together, We Lose…' - Gautam Gambhir breaks silence on India’s loss in Guwahati Test vs England

For India, this becomes their third-ever clean sweep at home, following the 0-3 loss to New Zealand last October. The defeat has raised serious questions about the team’s approach, consistency, and readiness for red-ball challenges ahead.

India's defeat by South Africa in the Guwahati Test was really disappointing. As a result, fans and experts seriously criticized that defeat. Addressing the situation, head coach Gautam Gambhir was very open about the result in the post-match press conference. The former India opener replied to the backlash circulating online and shared his thoughts on the current team phase.

With fans questioning his methods and online trollers targeting his decisions, Gambhir did not hold back from giving sharp responses. He defended the team's performance, pointing toward his past successes while stressing the need to allow young players the time to grow.

Gambhir recalled India’s achievements during his tenure while urging that players need to be supported, especially when faced with difficult transitions. “I’m the same guy under whom India did well in England, won the Champions Trophy, and won the Asia Cup… I hate the word ‘transition,’ but this is exactly what transition is. The young players are learning on the job. You've to give them time,” he said, as quoted by Revsportz.

Gambhir Opens Up on Accountability and India’s Collapse

India, led by Shubman Gill and featuring several young faces with only KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant as senior members, suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the series. Gambhir described parts of India’s play as “unacceptable” and stressed the need for improvement in all aspects of Test cricket. He pointed out how India collapsed from strong positions multiple times. "At one point we were 95/1 and 120 for 6 or 7. This kind of performance is not acceptable… we need to improve mentally, technically, or in absorbing pressure," he added.

See Also: List of India's biggest loss in Test Cricket by run margin

When asked about who should take the blame for the defeat, Gambhir maintained a collective approach. “We win together, we lose together… The blame lies at the feet of everyone, starting with me. Start prioritizing Test cricket… more than the accountability, it's about the care,” he stated. With this loss, India drops further in the WTC 2025–27 standings, but the team aims to bounce back as the white-ball leg begins on November 30, followed by the T20I series starting December 9.

England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith was at the center of a major DRS controversy on the second day of the first Ashes Test in Perth after being given out caught behind on review. Batting on 15, Smith was cramped for room while attempting to pull a back-of-a-length delivery from Brendan Doggett and was initially given not out by on-field umpire Nitin Menon. However, Australia captain Steven Smith opted for a review following loud appeals from Travis Head at short leg and wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

The decision went to TV umpire Sharfuddoula, who took almost four minutes and several replays before overturning the on-field call. The moment became even more dramatic when Jamie Smith started walking away after witnessing a subtle spike on the Real Time Snickometer (RTS) that was being displayed on the big screen. But he hesitated as a slowed-down clip showed the spike occurring a frame after the ball had passed the bat, leading to uncertainty about the timing of the contact.

Despite the ambiguity, Sharfuddoula ruled Smith out, saying the evidence indicated contact with the bat. Former international umpire Simon Taufel later backed the TV umpire’s decision, stressing the importance of using all available technology consistently throughout a series. Thousands of England fans disagreed, booing loudly and chanting, “Same old Aussies, always cheating.”

Taufel Backs Decision; Waugh Says Smith’s Reaction Played a Role

During the broadcast, Sharfuddoula explained his reasoning: “[There is a] spike as the ball has just gone past the bat. [I am] satisfied the ball has made contact with the bat. My decision… Nitin, you need to change your decision from not out to out. There's a clear spike as the ball had just passed [the bat].” Taufel supported this, pointing out the challenges of different technologies: “This is the difficulty when we have two types of edge-detection technologies around the world… if you get a spike up to one frame past the bat, that is conclusive. And in this particular case, that is exactly what was there.” He added that the TV umpire “didn't want to pull the trigger quite as quickly as perhaps he could have or should have,” but still reached the correct outcome.

Watch the video here

Jamie Smith started to walk before coming back after this hotly discussed moment. So what's your call here?#Ashes | #DRSChallenge | @Westpac pic.twitter.com/FpiqM6U6uM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2025

See Also: Travis Head stuns with 69-ball century in AUS vs ENG 1st Ashes Test

Former Australian batter Mark Waugh noted that Jamie Smith’s initial reaction may have influenced the final call. “I think Smith gave it away there… I don't think the umpire would have been convinced that he'd hit that if he'd stayed there,” Waugh said, adding that the lengthy decision time suggested doubt. “I think that's the longest DRS decision I think I've seen,” he remarked, comparing it to past controversies such as those seen in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

South Africa have been dealt a major blow ahead of the second Test against India, with pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada officially ruled out of the contest in Guwahati. The match, which begins on November 22 at the Barsapara Stadium, marks the venue’s debut in the Test arena and comes with the series intriguingly poised after the Proteas’ strong win in Kolkata.

Rabada had already missed the opening Test due to a rib injury sustained during a training session. While South Africa managed to clinch victory without him, his absence remains significant given his experience and strike power in challenging conditions. He also skipped South Africa’s practice session on Thursday, raising early concerns around his fitness.

Captain Temba Bavuma put an end to any speculation during the pre-match press conference, confirming that Rabada would play no further role in the ongoing tour. “Kagiso has been ruled out of the second Test,” Bavuma said, citing the medical team’s decision to avoid any unnecessary risk with the fast bowler’s recovery. “He will continue the initial phase of his rehabilitation before returning home.”

Bavuma weighs spin-friendly pitch tactics as Rabada heads home injured

Cricket South Africa issued a statement explaining that Rabada will undergo a four-week recovery program while being monitored by the Proteas medical staff. He will travel back to South Africa after the conclusion of the second Test.

ALSO SEE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends blessings to star women cricketer ahead of their wedding

With the teams heading to a completely new Test venue, Bavuma also shared insights about the surface in Guwahati. He noted that it carries typical subcontinental characteristics, where batting conditions should be at their best in the early stages before spinners begin to dominate. “This wicket looks a lot fresher and will be more consistent in terms of variability compared to Kolkata,” he said. “We’ll take another look in the morning before finalizing his replacement.”

As South Africa prepare to adjust their bowling combination once again, India will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing opening Test. The untested nature of the Barsapara pitch and the stakes of the series add further intrigue to what promises to be a compelling and historic contest.

The Indian cricket team landed in Guwahati on Wednesday, hoping to put behind the disappointment of their loss in the opening Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens. The second and final Test of the series will be historic, marking the first-ever Test match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Assam. But India’s preparation has been overshadowed by skipper Shubman Gill’s injury setback, which has left the top order looking vulnerable.

Gill injured his neck while batting on Day 2 in Kolkata and was unable to take the field thereafter. He did not bat in India’s second innings either, as the hosts crumbled in a chase of 124, handing South Africa a rare victory on Indian soil. The defeat hurt India’s proud home record and exposed gaps in their batting, now further stretched with Gill’s unavailability.

A video of India’s arrival in Guwahati surfaced on social media with Gill seen without a neck brace but still struggling to move his head comfortably. According to reports from the Indian Express, the 26-year-old has been ruled out of the Guwahati Test beginning Saturday. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant will step up to lead the side, while young left-hander Sai Sudharsan is likely to be drafted into the playing XI.

ALSO SEE: IND vs SA 2025 ODI series: Will Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah be available?

Pressure on Middle Order as India Eye Redemption After Eden Gardens Setback

The BCCI issued a statement confirming that Gill is recovering well but will continue to be monitored by the medical team. “A decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly,” the board had initially stated, but the latest update suggests India will not risk their captain as the injury remains sensitive.

India now face a must-win situation to level the short series. With home pride at stake and several batting concerns to address, Rohit Sharma’s absence and Gill’s injury leave a heavy responsibility on the middle order. The team had an optional training session with Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Akash Deep and Devdutt Padikkal among those who hit the nets.

Play will begin at 9 a.m. on all five days, with a unique twist in scheduling, tea will be taken before lunch for the first time in Test cricket history. India will hope the change brings a spark as they seek redemption in Guwahati.

The Shubman Gill-led Indian team will head to Guwahati for a high-stakes battle as they face a must-win clash in the second Test against South Africa, starting November 22 at the Barsapara Stadium. India are staring at the possibility of being whitewashed at home for the second straight year, making this fixture one of their most crucial red-ball outings in recent memory.

All attention is on Gill’s fitness after India virtually played with 10 men in the Kolkata Test. The Indian captain suffered a neck injury while attempting a sweep shot, retiring hurt after just two balls. The 26-year-old was in visible agony, stretchered off the field, and later admitted to a hospital, where he stayed overnight. His absence proved costly as India fell to a shocking 30-run defeat, one of their most embarrassing home losses in Test history.

Will Gill Play in Guwahati?

Gill was discharged on Sunday evening, increasing hopes of a return. However, a viral video showing him in pain and wearing a cervical collar has raised fresh concerns. According to a report in The Times of India, Gill is expected to travel with the squad on Wednesday (November 19), or Thursday at the latest, provided the BCCI medical team does not advise against it.

Despite travelling, Gill’s participation remains uncertain. Medical staff are monitoring him closely, and he has been advised rest for now. A final decision will likely come closer to the match. If he is ruled out, Rishabh Pant is set to lead India for the first time in Test cricket. Pant has prior leadership experience, having captained India in five T20Is against South Africa in 2022.

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Abhinav Mukund Calls For Split Captaincy

In the aftermath of India’s defeat, former opener Abhinav Mukund voiced strong opposition to the idea of Gill becoming an all-format captain. Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show, Mukund said that managing all three formats under a single leader is no longer ideal in today’s demanding schedule.

He acknowledged Gill’s potential but stressed that “split captaincy is a smart move.” Mukund highlighted the intense pressure on Gill, especially with the South Africa series being a must-win at home. He believes dividing leadership responsibilities would help maintain balance and performance across formats.

Gill, who already leads India in Tests and ODIs and is tipped to take over T20Is post the 2026 World Cup, has risen rapidly through the leadership ranks. But with fitness concerns and mounting expectations, his biggest challenge may be just beginning.

The South Africans pulled off a stunning 30-run win over India in a low-scoring thriller at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Chasing a modest target of 124 runs, India witnessed a dramatic batting collapse and were bowled out for just 93 on the third day. This was also South Africa's first Test triumph on Indian soil in 15 years.

But the match kept on being closely fought from the very beginning as momentum kept shifting. South Africa, after winning the toss, batted first but were bowled out for 159. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah came up with an excellent spell of 5/27 to give the hosts early control in the game. India replied with 189 in the first innings, managing to take a slender 30-run lead, with KL Rahul's composed 39 the highest score. Offspinner Simon Harmer was the standout performer for South Africa with 4/30.

Temba Bavuma played an unbeaten captain's knock of 55 to ensure stiff resistance for South Africa in the third innings. Eventually, the visitors got bowled out for 153, setting India a target of 124. However, India’s chase fell apart quickly as wickets tumbled one after another, struggling against the accuracy and turn produced by the South African spinners, especially Harmer, who picked four more wickets for just 21 runs.

Simon Harmer’s 8 wickets in the match helped South Africa win the game

The win for South Africa showed their fightback, having lost the first innings by 30 runs before they chased down a small target. Simon Harmer was the star of the match, ending with superb match figures of 8 wickets and taking apart India's batting in both innings. Adding to the woes, Indian skipper Shubman Gill retired hurt to a neck injury while batting in the first innings, which meant they were one batter short in the second innings. 

See Also: IND vs SA: BCCI's latest update on Shubman Gill’s neck injury after hospitalisation in Kolkata test

Washington Sundar showed some fight with a 31-run knock. For South Africa, Bavuma was the only one to bat well in the second innings to help get their team over 100. While Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets on Day 2, Kuldeep Yadav also took a couple of important wickets. but India couldn’t handle the pressure as South Africa completed a memorable win inside three days and now leads the series 1-0.

Fans reacted to India’s 30-run loss in the Kolkata Test by sharing funny memes on X (Twitter). Here are some of the best memes:

From sledging to hugging on your defeat 💀👀

#SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/GdzUWj28Ks

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

ICT fans after seeing the team is losing even the easy matches now.#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/EbHor82iI3

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

South Africa beat India by 30 runs to go 1-0 up in the series

Erippuk @GautamGambhir#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/zbBQozqJhr

— 𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓪𝑒𝓵  (@Rolex8170) November 16, 2025

GG era 🥲After 15 years we lost to SA in India and not able to chase the low target 😭

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/Uwp8MkZLco

— V I P E R (@VIPERoffl) November 16, 2025

- Lost NZ series and put all the blame on Rohit Sharma
- Lost Sl series
- Lost BGT
- Lost ODI Series vs Aus
- Played politics with Rohit and virat and silently diverted all the hate towards gill &
- Today after 15 years SA won a match lm indian soil

Ruined my beautiful ICT 💔. pic.twitter.com/HDx3wy6zbb

— Roesque (@LVR_HYPER09) November 16, 2025

Temba Bavuma after beating India :#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/X3SSxHgUvN

— 🅰️ J (@EHuman0) November 16, 2025

south africa didn't beat india - karma did. pic.twitter.com/ROns4F1ANW

— desi sigma (@desisigma) November 16, 2025

What will be your next excuse for this never ending defeat series 🧐😒

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/ZZ7RuGVQ5E

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) November 16, 2025

Bavuma gets the final laugh

What a game, and what a captain’s knock.

Give the man his due

South Africa won test in india after 15 years #INDvSA #INDvsSApic.twitter.com/Yfj8VXH2eG

— Ash (@Ashsay_) November 16, 2025

They trolled him for his height
Action speaks Louder than Words🔥.

Team India failed to chase 123 against South Africa! 🤯🥶

#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/PU6RXkGgCH

— ALii ツ (@ALii__313) November 16, 2025

The BCCI has issued an official update on Shubman Gill’s injury after he retired hurt during Day 2 of the Kolkata Test at Eden Gardens on Saturday, November 15. Gill walked in to bat and began with a boundary, but soon left the field after being examined by the BCCI Medical Team and physio check.

The board confirmed the Indian captain is suffering from a neck spasm (or neck strain) and his return to bat for the rest of the day will depend on how he responds to treatment.

According to the BCCI statement, "Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progress." Gill left the ground in visible pain after playing just two deliveries in the morning session at the Eden Gardens.

The incident occurred shortly after Simon Harmer dismissed Washington Sundar in the India vs South Africa Test. Gill defended his first ball and slog-swept the next delivery for a boundary. Right after the shot, he clutched the back of his neck, and despite the physio’s quick assessment, he appeared unable to move his head freely due to the stiff neck (or neck strain).

He walked off the field at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with Rishabh Pant at the crease, as the BCCI medical team monitored the status of this freak injury.

Shubman Gill Injury Fuels Workload Debate: India’s Position in IND vs SA Test

A couple of hours after Gill left the field, the BCCI shared an update confirming that he was being closely monitored and that a decision on his further participation would depend on his progress and recovery time. 

Since taking over the Test captaincy, Gill’s workload has become a major discussion point, as he has been playing continuously as an all-format player since the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.

His schedule has included the Asia Cup, Tests against West Indies, ODIs, and T20Is against Australia, along with facing increasing physical and mental fatigue from taking over ODI captaincy duties.

🚨 Update 🚨

Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team. A decision on his participation today will be taken as per his progress.

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/okTBo3qxVH #TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ivd9LVsvZj

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 15, 2025

See Also: Watch: Ravindra Jadeja’s RR entry video goes viral after blockbuster IPL 2026 trade

Before Gill’s injury, India had bundled out South Africa for 159, helped by a brilliant five-wicket haul from Jasprit Bumrah. India then built a strong 57-run stand between KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, but after Sundar’s dismissal brought Gill came to the middle.

 South Africa struck quickly, removing Rahul for 39 and Pant for 27. Pant’s innings featured two sixes, making him the Indian player with the most Test sixes, surpassing Virender Sehwag’s record of 90.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official BCCI update on Shubman Gill's injury?

The BCCI officially confirmed that Indian captain Shubman Gill is suffering from a neck spasm and is being monitored, with a decision on his further participation dependent on his progress.

Why has Shubman Gill's continuous workload become a major discussion?

Gill has played continuously since the series against England across all three formats (Test, ODI, T20I) while also taking on the Test and ODI captaincy, leading to concerns about fatigue.

What record did Rishabh Pant break during the IND vs SA Kolkata Test?

Rishabh Pant surpassed Virender Sehwag's record of 90 Test sixes to become the Indian player with the most sixes in Test cricket history.

How did Shubman Gill sustain the neck spasm during the Test?

Gill suffered the injury immediately after hitting a slog-sweep for a boundary off Simon Harmer, clutching the back of his neck due to the sudden, jarring movement.