🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.

From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.

Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.

Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press