India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
