The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
