The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
