The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
