The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
