The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
