India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
