The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
