India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
