India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
