The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
