The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
