The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
