India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
