India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
