The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
