India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
