India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory 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 under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
