The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents 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 domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
