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.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
