India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
