India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
