India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
