The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades 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 past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
