India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
