🔗 Share this article

India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.

Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this season also.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

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

Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the squad.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press