The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
