India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
