India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. 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 the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
