🔗 Share this article

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

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.

Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.

Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the squad.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press