India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
