The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
