India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
