The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
