India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
