India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
