The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
