The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
