India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
