India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win 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 positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
