The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
