India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
