India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
