India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
