🔗 Share this article

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

Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.

Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

A Troubling Pattern

This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.

From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.

A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.

Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the side.

Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press