India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
