Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has highlighted the lack of preparation and scheduling issues as the reasons behind India’s poor showing in their 0-2 series sweep by South Africa at home. South Africa handed India their biggest Test defeat by 408 runs in Guwahati to win the series 2-0.

India lost to New Zealand 0-3 at home in 2024 and to South Africa 0-2 in 2025 while Gambhir was their coach. Gavaskar emphasized how both of these teams had adapted to the conditions by preparing far better than their Indian counterparts.

"More than things going badly wrong from the Indian point of view, I think it’s the preparation of both these teams that needs to be lauded. New Zealand played a series in Sri Lanka before coming to India, and got used to the weather conditions and the pitches. South Africa went to Pakistan in October before they came to India. Their A team was in India playing against India A. Some of those players were prepared, and they then came into the test matches. Their preparation was much more thorough than a lot of other teams," Gavaskar told India Today.

Additionally, Gavaskar suggested that the scheduling in the midst of all the multi-format cricket that is being played would need to be reviewed. Following the home series against the West Indies, Gavaskar was critical of the ODI series against Australia that took place in Australia.

Given that the ODI World Cup was only scheduled for 2027, he believes the series was unnecessary at this time. However, Gavaskar pointed out that as India is a major market for the sport, the Men in Blue are usually in high demand throughout the year.

"That is the way the market forces are. The market forces at the moment mean that India is a team that is asked to in other countries just about every year because that boosts their TV revenue. See, last year India played 5 Test matches in Australia. And what happened this year again? We went to Australia in the middle of our home season," Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar also asked the BCCI to be strict about the Indian team traveling away in the middle of the home season, so that the Indian players remain accustomed to the conditions.

"I think that is the thing that India needs to be very strong about, that Australia doesn't go anywhere during their home season. India should also say to other teams, 'Look, our season is more important. You want to play against us; you come to India. That is what India needs to do. Playing the ODI series, or T20 series, in Australia between the two Test series didn't make any sense, but that was a bilateral arrangement that had to be adhered to," he said.

This was India’s last Test assignment until August next year in Sri Lanka, as the focus shifts to T20Is and ODIs ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. India will now play South Africa in three ODIs and five T20Is and will then face New Zealand as well in three ODIs and five T20Is.