India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
