India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches 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. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
