Unconquerable Not Anymore: Why The Indian Red-Ball Cricket Reputation Is in Tatters

India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Disappears

The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.

India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Worrying Trend

It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition too.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.

Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.

Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the squad.

Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.

At his post-series press