The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
