🔗 Share this article

India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away 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 the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press