India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
