The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press