🔗 Share this article

The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Vanishes

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.

Concerning History

This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.

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

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.

Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.

Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the performances of the side.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

In his post-series press