The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
