India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa 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 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
