India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
