IND vs SA 2025: ‘Playing to save matches in India’ - Virat Kohli's brother makes scathing remark on Indian team management

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s brother, Vikas Kohli, made a scrathing remark on Team India’s management during the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. The hosts ended Day 4 on 27/2, chasing a massive target of 549. With eight wickets remaining, they will have to battle for a draw on the final day.

India had lost the first Test of the two-match series in Kolkata by 30 runs. In a recent post, Vikas lamented that the team used to play for wins even abroad, but now struggle to save Tests at home. He criticised the management for making unnecessary changes and disrupting the team’s established system.

"There was a time that we played to win even in overseas conditions. Now we are playing to save the match even in India. This is what happens when u try to boss around and change things unnecessary which were not broken," Vikas wrote on Threads.

Unless the hosts pull off a miracle in Guwahati, which seems unlikely, India are on the verge of another Test series defeat at home. Once dominant in home Tests, the team has struggled in recent times. Since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, India has lost four of their six home Tests.

This includes a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand in 2024 and the first Test loss against South Africa. Their only home series victories came against the West Indies, where they won 2-0. Under Kohli’s captaincy, India lost just two Tests at home in eight years, winning all 11 home Test series he led in.

India’s first home series defeat in Tests since 2012 came against New Zealand in 2024, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. Gambhir has faced criticism for his selection policies and strategies, with unnecessary chopping and changing across games disrupting team stability. Frequent shuffling of the batting order has also been a concern, as has the preference for all-rounders over specialist players in the longer format.