NEW DELHI: After the historic series loss to New Zealand at home, there is a lot of discussion about India’s 12-year home run being snapped and 18 series winning streak being broken. And rightly so, as no team has ever dominated at home like this Indian team in Test cricket history.
One more big ‘proud’ home record for India is that they have not suffered a series whitewash at home for more than 24 years now.
India were last beaten conclusively at home by Hansie Cronje-led South Africa, who won the two-match series. Under the captaincy of Sachin Tendulkar, India lost the first Test by 4 wickets at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, followed by an innings and 71 runs defeat at M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.Since then India have made sure that they are not clean swept at home at all, but Tom Latham-led New Zealand have a chance to do so in the ongoing three-match series against Rohit Sharma‘s side after two emphatic victories to secure the series – their first ever on Indian soil.
In fact the last time India were whitewashed in a Test series, home or away, was by New Zealand too. New Zealand defeated a visiting Indian side 2-0 at home in early 2020.
From the last home clean sweep by South Africa till today, India have endured four more series whitewashes – all away from home. Two of those came against the Black Caps in New Zealand (both 2-0 in 2002 and 2020). The other two came against England (4-0 in England, 2011) and Australia (4-0 in Australia, 2012).
As India look to avoid the series sweep against New Zealand, let’s check out how they were whitewashed by South Africa at home in 2000:
Close encounter at Wankhede
In February 2000, captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss at his home ground and decided to bat first. But South Africa pacers, Allan Donald (2-23), Shaun Pollock (2-43), Jacques Kallis (3-30) and Hansie Cronje (2-26), chipped away wickets at regular intervals to not allow any substantial partnership for the hosts. This despite Tendulkar holding one end with a composed 97, off 163 balls, with the help of two sixes and 12 fours. Eventually, the hosts were bowled out for 225 on the opening day itself.
South Africa started their first innings on a positive note with openers Gary Kirsten (50) and Herschelle Gibbs (47) adding 90 runs. Tendulkar (3-10) then provided India with crucial breakthroughs by removing both openers. Javagal Srinath (3-45), Anil Kumble (2-62) and Murali Kartik (2-28) were also among the wickets as they bowled South Africa out for 176 and took a decent 49-run lead in the low scoring contest.
Despite the advantage, India batters failed to set a match-winning target for the visitors as they were shot out for just 113 in their second essay. Only three India batters were in double figures – Rahul Dravid (37), Sourav Ganguly (31) and Nayan Mongia (19 not out off 10 balls). Pollock (4-24) led the South Africa attack to give themselves a chance to win the contest as South Africa were set to chase a 163-run target.
Another good opening stand (51 runs) set the platform for South Africa as they chased down the target with four wickets in hand. Kumble took four wickets to keep India in the game but it was not enough in the end. Incidentally, Tendulkar was named ‘Man of the Match’ for his all-round performance.
Innings thrashing in Bengaluru
Tendulkar again won the toss and decided to bat first. Again, India were shot down in the opening day itself, posting just 158 after struggling for 82.3 overs. Kumble was the top-scorer for the hosts in the first innings with an unbeaten 36.
South Africa then showed that there were no demons in the pitch as they posted a mammoth 479. As many as five batters scored half-centuries for the visitors with Lance Klusener top-scoring with 97. Kallis (95), Nickey Boje (85), Kirsten (79) and Daryll Cullinan (53) were the other big contributors for South Africa. Kumble took six wickets, for 143 runs, in the innings, but couldn’t stop the visitors from taking a massive 321 runs lead.
Dravid (18) and Wasim Jaffer (23) gave India a cautious start, putting 47 runs for the opening wicket. But the South Africa attack, led by spinner Boje (5-83), took wickets at regular intervals to keep the hosts on the back foot. Mohammad Azharuddin (102) scored his 22nd Test hundred in the second innings, in what turned out to be his final innings for India in the traditional format of the game. With little support from the other end, India were bundled out for 250 to lose the match by an innings and 71 runs.