The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph 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 positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
