The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
