India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
