Invincible A Thing of the Past: The Reasons The Indian Test Cricket Legacy Is in Tatters

India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.

A Promising Start Disappears

The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.

India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.

Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.

Concerning History

This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.

The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.

Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.

Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.

What's Gone Wrong?

A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.

Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.

Several Weaknesses

Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.

Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.

This was clear in the showings of the side.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.

Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.

Leadership Under Fire

The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press