The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - 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, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and 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 nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
