🔗 Share this article

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

Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

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

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.

Currently, India look to be beatable at home.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press