India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
