The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
