The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered 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 technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
