India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match 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 Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
