India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs 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, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
