The Indian cricket team is one of the strongest home sides in the 21st century in Test cricket. Since January 2000, India have won 74 Tests and lost only 19.
Their win/loss ratio in the 21st century at home in Test cricket is 3.894, the second-best in the world, behind only Australia’s 5.500. India were inarguably the toughest frontier to conquer for any visiting side, as India’s spinners and crafty batsmen made their team almost invincible at home.
Over a period of around 12 years, India were nigh-unbeatable in home conditions, losing only 2 Test matches from 2012 to late 2024.
However, there have been a few teams that have managed to breach the Indian fortress. And not just in a standalone Test match but claimed a series victory, which have been few and far between.
How many Test series have India lost at home since 2000?
In the past 25 years, that is in the 21st century, India have lost only four home Test series out of 43 series.
List Of Test Series India Lost At Home Since 2000:
0-2 vs South Africa, 2000
The Indian team led by Sachin Tendulkar suffered a 0-2 thumping at the hands of Hansie Cronje’s South Africa in 2000. The Proteas claimed a four-wicket victory in the first Test in Mumbai and won by an innings and 71 runs in the second Test in Bengaluru to take the two-Test series home.
Jacques Kallis was the Player of the Series for scoring 136 runs and taking five wickets.
1-2 vs Australia, 2004
Australia have managed only one Test series win in India since 2000, which came in 2004, when they took home the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the four-Test series by a 2-1 scoreline.
Led by Adam Gilchrist, Australia beat India by 217 runs in Bengaluru, drew the Chennai Test, won by 342 runs in Nagpur, and lost at the Wankhede by only 13 runs.
Middle-order batsman Damien Martyn was named the Player of the Series for his contribution of 444 runs, the highest in the series.
1-2 vs England, 2012
The England team at the turn of the decade was among the best English Test sides ever. After winning the 2010/11 Ashes in Australia, England beat India by 1-2 in India in 2012. They have since failed to win more than one Test match in a series in India.
Alastair Cook led from the front with the bat, finishing the four-Test series with a Man of the Series-worthy 562 runs at an average of 80, while Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar combined to pick up 37 Indian wickets.
England lost the first Test of the series in Ahmedabad but bounced back stunningly to win by 10 and 7 wickets in Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively, before the fourth Test in Nagpur was drawn.
3-0 vs New Zealand, 2024
India’s most shocking and unexpected home Test series defeat in the 21st century came when New Zealand not only won the series but also whitewashed India 3-0 in Indian conditions despite the presence of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli.
Really, barely anyone saw it coming.
New Zealand’s victory in the first Test in Bengaluru on a green pitch and under overcast conditions, where India were bowled out for 46 in their first innings after electing to bat first, could be put down to an incorrect reading of the conditions by Rohit and Dravid.
But in Pune and Mumbai, where New Zealand clinched victories by 113 runs and 25 runs, the visitors outbowled and outbatted the hosts to seal the series by a 3-0 scoreline, India’s first whitewash at home since 2000. This series loss ended India’s 12-year series-winning run at home. Will Young was the Player of the Series for his 244 runs.
It had a knock-on effect: Ashwin, Rohit, and Kohli lasted only one more Test series before retiring from the format.
(Stats updated till 20th November 2025.)
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