India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
