The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
