The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
