🔗 Share this article

India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.

From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Currently, India look to be beatable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the squad.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press