India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
