India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
