The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
