India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
