India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
