India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
