🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle also.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press