India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
