India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
