The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
