The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
