India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
