India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
