India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
