The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
