India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
