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 gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
