The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
