India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
