India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
