Unconquerable No More: The Reasons The Indian Test Cricket Legacy Lies in Ruins

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

In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.

A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.

A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.

Worrying Trend

This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.

Causes of the Fall

The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.

Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.

Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.

Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.

Various Shortcomings

The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the side.

Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.

Leadership Under Fire

The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.

During his post-series press