India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
