India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
