The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
