India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
