"Never looked like you had the skill" - Irfan Pathan's blunt assessment after India’s humiliating 0-2 whitewash in IND vs SA 2025 Tests

Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan made a blunt assessment after India suffered a humiliating 0-2 whitewash at home against South Africa. The hosts lost the second Test by a massive margin of 408 runs in Guwahati.

Irfan Pathan called it a shameful defeat and reckoned that India lacked the skills in both batting and bowling. He reflected that they were outplayed by South Africa, similar to how they had suffered a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home last year.

"It is very shameful how India have played at home against South Africa. This has been going on in the recent past. They lost poorly against New Zealand and now against South Africa. It never looked like you had the skill in both batting and bowling. Harmer did the same thing that Santner had done when New Zealand came," he said on his YouTube channel.

The former cricketer pointed out that the Indian batters' technique against spin was exposed. He called for improvement in playing spin at home. Simon Harmer bagged six wickets in the second innings of the second Test. Moreover, he ended the series as the leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps from two matches.

"Our technique against spinners is very poor and we have to improve it. Harmer went ahead of our spinners. He had a brilliant variation. South Africa defeated us at home even with players like Rabada not being there."

The Proteas had won the first Test at Kolkata by 30 runs. It was their first Test series win in India in 25 years, having last achieved the feat in 2000 when they won 2-0.

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Irfan Pathan slams India's selection policy for not playing specialist batters

Irfan Pathan also called out the poor selection calls made by the Indian team throughout the series. Chasing 549 runs in the final innings in Guwahati, the hosts failed to bat through the day to save the Test and were bowled out for just 140 in 63.5 overs.

He called for the need to play specialist batters in the team rather than have more all-rounders and multi-role batters. Irfan Pathan recalled how India had saved the fourth Test against England in Manchester during their recent tour and batted out the entire fifth day.

"Recently in England, India had saved a Test in difficult conditions. There they had at least five pure batters. Five specialist batters. Here you have only three specialist batters. How will you save the game and bat the whole day? You will not be able to. You need pure batters and you need to make that change. If you have so many multi-role players then where specialists are needed, you will suffer," he said.

India suffered their fifth loss in seven home Tests under Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.