The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years 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 prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
