India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
