India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
