The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
