India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
