India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
