India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
