India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
