India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
