India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
