India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
