The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
