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 handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
