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 gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
