🔗 Share this article

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

In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.

Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.

While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the squad.

Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press