The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
