India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
