India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
