Invincible No More: The Reasons The Indian Red-Ball Cricket Standing Lies in Ruins

The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

Initial Hope Disappears

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.

The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this season also.

From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.

From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.

Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.

Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was evident in the displays of the team.

Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.

Coaching Scrutiny

The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press