The series decider was played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. KL Rahul, for a change, decided to do the toss with his left hand and, finally, after 20 consecutive toss defeats, India won the toss and opted to bowl first.

India’s 2–0 defeat to South Africa at home was more than a scoreline. It exposed deeper issues in preparation, selection and approach. From an Eden surface shaped by external influence to a free-flowing South African batting display in Guwahati, the series underlined the widening gap between stability and improvisation. As questions arise over India’s Test structure, this result stands as a clear reminder that the long format rewards clarity, not uncertainty.