The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
