India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
