The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
