India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
