India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
