India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
