India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches 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 seen as an exception.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
