The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
