🔗 Share this article

India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season too.

From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.

Roots of the Decline

India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

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

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating 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 home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.

Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the team.

Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press