The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
