🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.

Management Questions

The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press