India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
