🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory 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 momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.

After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.

Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

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

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.

This was evident in the showings of the side.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press