The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
