India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
