India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand 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 hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
