The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
