The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
