The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
