India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
