The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
