India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
