The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
