India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
