The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
