India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
