The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
