India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
