🔗 Share this article

India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.

Today, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press