🔗 Share this article

India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

It was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.

Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the squad.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

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

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press