🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team 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 invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.

Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press