🔗 Share this article

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

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.

After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team seem beatable at home.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.

Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.

Experts and participants have identified several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.

Management Questions

The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press