India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches 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. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India 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, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
