🔗 Share this article

India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

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

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.

After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room 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 Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.

Now, India look to be vulnerable at home.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press