The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
