The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
