India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
