The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
