After India's heavy defeat to South Africa, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj found himself stuck at Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport due to a nearly four-hour delay of his Air India Express
flight (IX 2884) to Hyderabad. Frustrated by the lack of communication, Siraj took to social media to express his displeasure, highlighting that despite multiple follow-ups, the airline failed to provide any explanation for the hold-up.
Siraj described the experience as the worst he had encountered with an airline, criticizing the extended wait without updates and warning other travelers against flying with the airline if it cannot ensure proper responsibility. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 7:25 pm, kept passengers waiting indefinitely, leaving many stranded without information.
This frustrating travel experience came immediately after India's crushing 408-run loss in the second Test at Guwahati, marking South Africa's first Test series win in India in 25 years. Siraj managed to take two wickets for 105 runs in the first innings but was ineffective in the second, bowling just five overs. South Africa's strong performance featured a maiden Test hundred from Senuran Muthusamy, impressive hitting from Marco Jansen, and lethal spells from Jansen and off-spinner Simon Harmer, who dominated India's batting line-up.
Meanwhile, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir accepted collective responsibility for the team's poor run, while captain Rishabh Pant acknowledged the team's failure to seize key moments during the series. The series loss also came on the heels of a 3-0 home whitewash by New Zealand, further fueling scrutiny of India's Test performances on home soil.
