The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
