The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
