India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
