Unbeatable Not Anymore: Why India's Test Match Reputation Is in Tatters

India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.

The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.

A Promising Start Fades Quickly

The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.

India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.

Concerning History

It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this cycle too.

After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.

From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.

Now, the team seem beatable at home.

Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.

A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.

Multiple Failings

Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.

This was clear in the displays of the team.

Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.

A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.

Management Questions

The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press