Unbeatable A Thing of the Past: Why The Indian Red-Ball Cricket Legacy Has Crumbled

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

Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

Early Optimism Vanishes

The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.

Worrying Trend

This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.

After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Reasons for the Slump

India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

The Core Issue

Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.

Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.

Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.

Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.

This was obvious in the showings of the team.

Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.

At his post-series press