India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
