The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
