The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
