“Shorten the IPL, play more Tests”: former IPL player Herschelle Gibbs offers blunt fix for India’s red-ball crisis
India’s troubles in Test cricket have resurfaced in stark fashion after a 2–0 home series loss to South Africa, marking their second whitewash in just over a year. The defeat has reignited scrutiny over India’s priorities in the longest format, particularly as the team adjusts to life after key retirements and under new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In November 2024, India suffered a 0–3 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand. Now, less than 13 months later, they have been beaten again—this time by Temba Bavuma’s South Africa—raising further questions about the direction of India’s red-ball cricket.
The conversation around India’s scheduling and workload gained further traction when a fan on social media posed a question about what changes the team should make. Responding directly, South African coach and former IPL player Herschelle Gibbs wrote in an X (Twitter) reply to a fan, “Shorten IPL and play more test cricket.”
Shorten IPL and play more test cricket ✔️ https://t.co/PrnQeN97yj
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) November 26, 2025
India’s batting collapse highlights deeper issues
Throughout the two-Test series against South Africa, India’s batting unit struggled significantly. The team averaged just 15.23 runs across both Tests—its second-lowest ever in a home series. Not a single century was scored by an Indian batter in either match.
This was only the third time in history that India failed to register an individual hundred in a home Test series—the previous instances coming in 1969/70 and 1995/96, both against New Zealand.
With this result, India’s campaign in the ongoing World Test Championship has taken a major hit. The team has now won just four of its nine matches in the cycle and has slipped further down the standings.
Gibbs’s comment adds to growing criticism of India’s calendar
As the Indian Premier League has expanded over time—from a six-week tournament to a 10-week window with 10 teams—concerns have grown around the shrinking space for red-ball fixtures. The increasing focus on the IPL has led some to question whether the balance between formats has tilted too far.
Gibbs’s comment drew attention for its bluntness and timing, landing immediately after another comprehensive home defeat and reinforcing broader concerns about India’s shrinking commitment to Test cricket.
The suggestion has echoed among those who believe that without structural adjustments—both in scheduling and in mindset—India may continue to struggle in the format that once defined its cricketing identity.
