The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
