India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
