🔗 Share this article

India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.

Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.

Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the displays of the side.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press