The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
