India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
