India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
