![Team India's report card after SA defeat [Source: AFP Photo]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1764153434700_TeamIndiareportcard.jpg?type=hq)
Team India's report card after SA defeat [Source: AFP Photo]
The inevitable happened as India was crushed by the visiting South African team in the two-game Test series. The reigning WTC champions inflicted a 2-0 whitewash on the home side as the hosts fell below Pakistan in the latest WTC points table. It won’t be an understatement to say that Team India had an underwhelming performance in the two matches.
There were not many quality individual performances, and as a team, the hosts failed to deliver the goods. This article will talk about how all the players who participated in the series fared and ratings will be given out of 10, based on their performances.
Top order batters
KL Rahul - 2/10
For a player who has shown exemplary resilience in 2025 and has been one of India’s best Test batters, KL Rahul had an underwhelming series against the Proteas. He looked like a pale shadow of his former self as the opening batter only scored 68 runs in two matches, and had an average of just 17.
He couldn't tackle the Proteas pace battery and often got out cheaply, hampering the team momentum.
Yashasvi Jaiswal - 3/10
Just like his opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, too, had a mediocre series as Marco Jansen made him his bunny. He did manage to score a fifty in the series, but in the other three innings, Jaiswal faced disappointments as he failed to give a solid start to Team India.
Middle order batters
Sai Sudharsan - 2/10
Sudharsan was given one more series to showcase his skills and cement a place in the Test squad, but the batter let it pass as he couldn’t do much at number 3. He played just one match (Guwahati), and failed against the Proteas attack as he only accumulated 17 runs in two innings. The batter had a chance to salvage pride for India in the second innings in Guwahati, but he was dismissed cheaply.
Shubman Gill - N/A
Gill had an unfortunate series as the Indian skipper suffered a neck sprain in the first innings of the Kolkata Test match and was ruled out of the match and the entire series. His absence was felt as Gill’s quality was missed by the Indian team in the Kolkata Test and the Guwahati loss.
Rishabh Pant - 1/10
Pant was making his comeback from a foot injury in the South Africa series, and it was fair to say that he clearly lacked match practice, as the batter couldn’t do much and scored just 36 runs in four innings, with an average of 12.
Moreover, his captaincy also came under scrutiny in the Guwahati Test as India suffered a whitewash at the hands of South Africa.
Dhruv Jurel - 1/10
Jurel scored a plethora of runs in the India A matches before the South Africa tour, but come the main series, Jurel was nowhere to be found as the batter crumbled under pressure and failed to deliver the goods. He scored just 27 runs in 2 matches, and couldn’t cement the reason for his India Test selection.
All-rounders
Nitish Kumar Reddy - 0/10
For some reason, India persisted with Nitish Reddy in the second Test and the move failed as he failed to inspire the Indian side with his performance. He only scored 10 runs, and couldn’t get a single wicket as Nitish Reddy couldn’t do much.
Ravindra Jadeja - 8/10
The all-rounders were the ones who outshone the main batters and were the shining light in a rather embarrassing showing. The leader of the pact was Ravindra Jadeja, who fought like a lone warrior in the second innings of the Guwahati Test.
With the bat he scored 105 runs in four innings, while also scalping 10 wickets as he performed exceedingly well for India.
Washington Sundar - 6/10
Sundar showed his batting class in the Kolkata loss where he was promoted at number 3, but with the ball, it was rather a disappointing showing. He scored 108 runs with the bat and showed his batting display under tough circumstances, but at the same time, he only picked up a solitary wicket in four innings.
Axar Patel - 3/10
Axar only played the first Test match and was dropped for the series decider. He scored 42 runs with the bat, and picked up 2 wickets as the all-rounder was hardly utilised by the skipper.
Bowlers
Kuldeep Yadav - 7/10
One of the best performers from the Indian side, Kuldeep Yadav, was the best spinner of the team as he grabbed 8 wickets in the series, and was the only spinner who troubled the South African batters. Plus, he defied all odds by playing 134 balls in the first innings of the Guwahati Test, showcasing his defensive technique in Tests.
Jasprit Bumrah - 7/10
In terms of pacers, Jasprit Bumrah had an underwhelming series, and yet, he managed to get 8 wickets in the series. However, Bumrah’s inability to break partnerships was questioned as South African openers tackled him easily.
He scalped a fifer in the first innings of the Kolkata Test match, but was largely innefective in Guwahati as India lost the match.
Mohammed Siraj - 4/10
Siraj was India’s bright spot in the England away tour, but he couldn’t replicate the same performance against South Africa as their batters negated him quite easily. The right-arm pacer bagged 6 wickets in four innings, with an average of 29 as he had a slightly underwhelming series.
