India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
