India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win 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 momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
