The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory 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 gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
