The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
