Invincible No More: Why India's Test Cricket Standing Has Crumbled

India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.

Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.

A Promising Start Vanishes

The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.

Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

A Troubling Pattern

It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.

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

Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.

The Core Issue

Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.

Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.

Multiple Failings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.

Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was evident in the displays of the side.

Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

During his post-series press