The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
