The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
