The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, 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 - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
