The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
