India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
