India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game 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 India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
