India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
