The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got 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 performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis 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 mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
