The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
