The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
