The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
