India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
