The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
