The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
