Indias home Test dominance dead and buried: Should BCCI look past Gautam Gambhir?

Steve Waugh, one of the greatest Test captains to have led in the game, once termed beating India at home in Tests the 'final frontier' for visiting teams. Such has been India's dominance at home that only thrice have they been whitewashed at home. Much to India's current head coach Gautam Gambhir's despair, two of those home whitewashes have come in his reign.

India's fortress and their cherished home Test record have both been buried inside twelve months since Gambhir took charge last year. After a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand at home, India were clean swept 2-0 by South Africa on Wednesday. The Proteas hammered India in the 2nd Test in Guwahati by 408 runs, handing the hosts their biggest defeat in terms of runs in the longest format.

What was once considered one of the toughest tours in Test cricket has been reduced to just another series for the visiting teams. Conquering India used to be a dream that even the best of Test leaders like Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith failed to realise during their captaincy reigns. But the dominance has been crushed and crushed emphatically.

The 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand last year was swept under the carpet by many as a one-off instance, even when the embarrassing defeat marked the end of India's 12-year unbeaten streak in Test series at home. But the cracks had already started to bleed. The wounds only deepened after South Africa capitalised on what was an abject surrender from India in the two-match series.

The defeat in Kolkata blatantly exposed India's struggle against spin, which was also the reason behind their loss against New Zealand last year. But the pitch talks once again shifted the focus away from the Indian batters. Not in Guwahati. On a pitch where South Africa scored over 700 runs across two innings, Indian batters were found wanting after barely crossing 200 only once.

But it was not just the batting. Some inexplicable selection calls, constant changes in the batting order, a toothless batting performance and an abject surrender led to what is arguably India's worst Test series defeat in decades. That India have now lost a home series in two consecutive years, marks one of the lowest points in the country's rich Test history.

India's spectacular downfall in Test cricket began when Gambhir took charge as the head coach last year. India have lost five of their last seven Test matches at home under the former India opener, who has now become the first Indian coach to oversee two Test series whitewashes at home.

For context, India lost only four Test matches and not a single series at home under former head coaches Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. India were a dominant force at home under captain Virat Kohli and Shastri, enjoying a near-flawless record. However, the hosts saw their domination end against New Zealand last year as the 3-0 defeat marked an end to their 18-series unbeaten run at home.

While it is no secret that India re a team in transition, it's Gambhir and his team management that are taking the selection calls and deserve some slack for the horror show in the whites in the last couple of years. While he has attained great success in white-ball cricket, Gambhir has failed to replicate it in Tests.

Since taking over last year, India have played 19 Test matches under Gambhir and have managed only seven wins, 4 of which have come against Bangladesh and West Indies. India have suffered Test series defeats against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. India have been whitewashed only thrice in their Test history and two of those clean sweeps have come under Gambhir.

As results continue to go haywire, pressure is mounting on Gambhir, who is on thin ice as far as his future as India's Test coach is considered. Though BCCI has never had a two-coach policy for the national team, Gambhir's repeated failures in red-ball cricket might prompt the decision makers to rethink their traditional strategy and address the obvious issue.

While he might continue as India's white-ball coach, the BCCI might look for a change in Tests. India will not play a Test series for the next nine months, which means there is enough time for the BCCI to decide Gambhir's future in Tests, however, it remains a strong possibility that another home series defeat will be brushed under the carpet.

BCCI might not have to look too far for an ideal replacement for the former India opener. VVS Laxman, who is the current Head of Cricket at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE), has been touted by many as a future head coach of the Indian team and has been on multiple tours with the national side. He can be called upon if Gambhir is relieved form his duties in Tests.