The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
