India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
