The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
