The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
