The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
