The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
