The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
