India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as 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 looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
