The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
