India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
