The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
