India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
