India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
