India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
