India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
