India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
