The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
