The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
