India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
