The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
