The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
