India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
