India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
