Invincible Not Anymore: Why India's Test Cricket Standing Is in Tatters

India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.

In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Initial Hope Disappears

The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.

The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season as well.

Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Causes of the Fall

India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.

Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.

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

Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the showings of the team.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press