🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

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

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.

A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.

After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.

Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.

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

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.

During his post-series press