🔗 Share this article

India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match 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 the opposition.

Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.

In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.

Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.

Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the team.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press