India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
