🔗 Share this article

India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.

From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.

Currently, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the performances of the side.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press