Unbeatable No More: Why The Indian Test Match Standing Lies in Ruins

India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.

In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

A Troubling Pattern

This was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.

Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.

Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.

While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

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

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the showings of the side.

Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press