The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
