🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.

From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.

While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Management Questions

The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press