The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
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 surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
