The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, 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 nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
