India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
