India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
