South Africa vs India 2018: 5 reasons why India lost the Test series

#4 Team selection

Failed yet again

When selectors named Rahane as the vice-captain, he was expected to start the game at Cape Town. It surprised many when the Indian XI for the first Test was announced. There was no KL Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane in the team. Shikhar Dhawan was selected to open with Murali Vijay, and Rohit Sharma was preferred over vice-captain Rahane.

Rahane's averages in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and England were 69.67, 54, 57, and 33.22 respectively, whereas Rohit's average was 11.25,40.66, 17, and 28.33. Rahane was the most successful Indian batsman in the overseas conditions for the last 2 to 3 years whereas Rohit Sharma clearly struggled outside of the subcontinent.

Going by current form backfired on Virat Kohli. Also, Dhawan's selection ahead of KL Rahul in the first Test was a poor choice by the Indian captain.