The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
