India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
