India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
