The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
