Indian cricket and its overseas woes
Statistically, India has had its best home season during 2016-17 phase. India has been one of the most dominant home team in recent years, one that has been compared to the Australia of 2000s.
But prior to this home season, India has had 2 horrific runs: one in 2011-12 and one in 2013-14. Why is it that a team that seems invincible at home struggles when it travels overseas? There are several reasons.
With India currently playing in South Africa, let's look at the problems the previous touring Indian teams have faced, and analyze whether the current team has the mettle to be the the best touring Indian team.
India's inability to pick up 20 wickets
India has never had a bowling attack that could pick up 20 wickets in overseas conditions. The country has had good fast bowlers, but never a line-up that could attack the opposition from both the ends. Statistically, Kapil Dev (434) and Zaheer Khan (311) are the only pacers with more than 300 Test wickets.
One of the reasons why India has struggled to produce good fast bowlers is that in domestic cricket, the wickets are spin-assisting which deters the players to take up fast bowling.
However, in recent times India has developed grounds with seaming conditions to encourage fast bowling. With a plethora of fast bowlers bursting onto the scene, this issue seems to be being solved.