The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
