India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
