India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
