India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
