The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent 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 momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
