🔗 Share this article

India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Disappears

The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.

After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Today, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the side.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press