India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
