The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
