The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
