The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
