Under Gambhir, India enjoyed major highs including winning the Champions Trophy, lifting the Asia Cup, and managing a creditable Test series draw in England. These results suggested stability and progress at the highest level.
However, alongside these achievements, India have also endured a sequence of historic setbacks, many of them firsts—that have altered the narrative around Gambhir’s reign.
India suffered their first-ever home ODI series loss to New Zealand, followed by an even more damaging result—a home Test series whitewash against New Zealand, something that had never happened before.
For the first time, India also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final, ending a consistent run at the top of the Test table.
Long-standing home dominance took further hits. India lost a home Test series to South Africa after 25 years, and for the first time, endured back-to-back home Test whitewashes across calendar years.
Batting, traditionally India’s strength at home, also faltered. After 30 years, India completed a home Test series without a single century from any batter. In another unprecedented moment, India failed to chase a target under 200 at home in Tests.
The defeats were not just symbolic—they were severe. In Guwahati, India suffered a 408-run loss, the biggest defeat in the nation’s cricketing history.
India also conceded 600-plus runs in a Test innings for the first time in 11 years and became the first team in Test history to lose a match despite scoring five centuries.
Further setbacks followed with India losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years and a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka after 27 years. In the same ODI series, India lost 30 wickets across three matches for the first time, narrowly avoiding a 3–0 defeat due to a tied game.
